MEDICAL CARE AND 
HEALTH FACILITIES 
IN SOUTH DAKOTA 
REPORT OF THE SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 
HEALTH COMMITTEE 
APRIL, 1946 MEDICAL CARE AND 
HEALTH FACILITIES 
IN SOUTH DAKOTA 
REPORT OF THE SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 
HEALTH COMMITTEE 
APRIL, 1946 MEMBERS OF STATE COMMITTEES AND SUB-COMMITTEES 
COUNCIL OF CHURCHES 
Rev. Harold Wager, Brookings 
DAKOTA FARMER 
Ralph E. Hansen, Aberdeen, Managing Editor 
FARM SECURITY ADMINISTRATION 
Basil Henderson, Philip, FSA Supervisor 
Ella L. Ollenburg, Huron, State Home Economist 
Ralph Hutchinson, Huron, State Director 
FEDERATED WOMEN’S CLUBS 
Mrs. C. E. Lang, President, Winner 
OSTEOPATHIC ASSOCIATION 
Dr. Lawrence Betts, Huron 
Dr. C. S, Betts, Huron, President, State Board of Examiners 
PRESS ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA 
John B, Perkins, Highmore 
CONGRESS OF PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION 
Mrs. William Claussen, 1607 East 10th Street, Sioux Falls, President 
Mrs. Alice Gambrel, Pierre 
Mrs. Sula Splitek, Huron 
MISCELLANEOUS 
Bee J. Keller, Huron, Huron College Nurse 
Carrie A. Benham, Mitchell, Secretary, State Nurse’s Examining Board 
Myrtle K. Corcoran, Mitchell, Director of Nurses, St. Joseph’s Hosiptal 
C. D. Head, Jr,, M.D., Kansas City, Missouri, Senior Surgeon, USPHS 
Floyd W. Beach, Woonsocket, County Extension Agent 
F. C. Totten, M.D., Lemmon, South Dakota 
STATE NURSE’S ASSOCIATION 
Leora Magestad, R. N., Sioux Falls, Surgical Supervisor of Sioux Valley 
Hospital 
Elvira Nelson, R. N., Mitchell 
Sister Melania, Pierre, Instructress of Nurses, St. Mary’s Hospital 
STATE CONFERENCE OF SOCIAL WORK 
Fern L. Chamberlain, Pierre, President 
Robert Hahn, Mitchell, South Dakota Children’s Aid 
STATE BOARD OF HEALTH 
Gilbert Cottam, M. D., Pierre, Superintendent 
A. L. Russell, D. D. S., Pierre, Director of Dental Health 
L. E. Aase, Pierre, Director, Public Health Education 
A. Triolo, M. D., Director, Maternal and Child Health 
Alice Olson, Pierre, Director, Division of Public Health Nursing 
Mary Malevich, R. N., Pierre, West River Supervising Nurse USPHS 
Dr. G. J. Van Heuvelen, Pierre, Director, Division of Preventable Diseases 
Control and Local Health Service 
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Theodore Nickisch, Huron, Ass’t. State Director, PMA 4 
MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION 
Lillian H. Schafer, Pierre, State Supervisor of Elementary Education 
C. L. Eskelson, Pierre, Vocational Rehabilitation 
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SECURITY 
F. C. Drake, Director of the State Department 
Paul West, Pierre, State Supervisor 
Bess M. Madden, Huron, Acting Director of Beadle County 
STATE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION 
Rev. C. M. Austin, Sioux Falls, Superintendent, Sioux Valley Hospital 
Mabel O. Wood, Mitchell, Superintendent, Methodist State Hospital 
George Kienholz, Pierre, Secretary, State Hospital Association 
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA 
Dr. Donald Slaughter, Vermillion, Dean, School of Medicine 
Dr. I. D. Weeks, President, University 
Dr. J. C. Olmacher, Vermillion, Professor of Pathology, Director of State 
Health Laboratory 
Professor O, K. Loftus, Vermillion, Professor of Physiology 
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS 
Dr. G. B. Reed, Sisseton 
J. W. Marsto, Huron 
COUNTY COMMISSIONER’S ASSOCIATION 
A. N. Hanson, Howard 
SOUTH DAKOTA DENTAL ASSOCIATION 
Dr. E. Hohf, Mitchell, President 
Dr. H. H. Fifield, Pierre 
SOUTH DAKOTA EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION 
Mrs. Ruth Le Wallin, R. N., Huron, School Nurse 
SOUTH DAKOTA FARM BUREAU 
Floyd Wilkerson, Huron, Executive Secretary 
Mrs. Eugene Swenson, Brandon 
SOUTH DAKOTA FARMER’S UNION 
W. C. Hermann, Rockham, State Director 
SOUTH DAKOTA FEDERATION OF LABOR 
A. J. Maag, Huron, President 
SOUTH DAKOTA GRANGE 
Mr, Ross Gumming, Wolsey 
Mrs. Ross Gumming, Wolsey, Lecturer 
T. J, Terney, Hitchcock, Overseer 
PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION 
Bliss C. Wilson, Letcher, Secretary 
LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES 
R. D. Falk, Vermillion, Secretary 
A. E. Mead, Vermillion 
SOUTH DAKOTA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION 
John C. Foster, Sioux Falls, Executive Secretary 
Dr. Wm. Duncan, Webster, President 
Dr. H. Russell Brown, Watertown 
Dr. C. E. Robbins, Pierre 
Dr. W. H. Saxton, Huron, Representative MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
STATE PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION 
Clarence C. Sherwood, M. D., Madison 
J. M. Butler, M. D., Hot Springs 
NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR INFANTILE PARALYSIS 
Mrs. Mildred Van Duzee, Huron, State Advisor 
Mrs. Lillian Olson, Yankton, State Representative 
CHIROPRACTORS ASSOCIATION 
Dr. W. B. Wolf, Eureka 
STATE SERVICE TO THE BLIND 
R. I. Moe, Pierre, Director 
HEALTH OFFICERS 
Dr. Oscar Harvey, Sioux Falls, City-County Health Department 
Lt. Harry Steigman, Sioux Falls, Sanitation, City-County Health Depart- 
ment 
HOSPITAL SURVEY 
Ethel Dale, R. N., Burke, Field Worker 
PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING 
Mrs. Cora N. Andrews, Miller, Supervisor, East River District 
Mrs. Margaret Stakke, R. N., Woonsocket, Public Health Nurse 
SOUTH DAKOTA AMERICAN LEGION 
G. W. Elmen, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 
EXTENSION SERVICE, STATE COLLEGE 
Nora M. Hott, Brookings, State Home Demonstration Leader 
Anna M. Wilson, Brookings, State Nutritionist 
Dixie Ebersole, Brookings, Home Agent 
Mrs. Florence Me Laron, Brookings 
Clarence Shanley, Brookings, District Supervisor 
HOME DEMONSTRATION CLUBS 
Mrs. Irene Me Daniels, Blunt 
Mrs. Leo Ruppel, Alpena 
Mrs. J. A. Johnson, Mt. Vernon, State Extension Club 
Mrs. R. P. Johnson, President, Route 2, Rapid City 
Nellie Me Laughlin, Brookings, Ass’t. State Home Demonstration Leader 6 
MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
HOSPITAL SUB-COMMITTEE 
State Hospital Association 
State Board of Health 
State Medical Association 
State Nurse’s Association 
State Council of Churches 
University of South Dakota 
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE 
State Hospital Association 
Farm Bureau 
State Grange 
Farmer’s Union 
Federation of Labor 
State Board of Health 
EDUCATION SUB-COMMITTEE 
P. T. A. 
Farm Bureau 
Farmer’s Union 
State Grange 
State Department of Public Instruction 
South Dakota Education Association 
Federation of Labor 
Extension Service 
Home Demonstration Clubs 
State Board of Health 
Department of Social Security 
Public Health Association TABLE OF CONTENTS 
Page 
INTRODUCTION 10 
I. MEDICAL CARE FACILITIES 13 
n. DENTAL CARE FACILITIES „ _ 18 
m. HOSPITAL FACILITIES 20 
IV. AMBULANCE SERVICE 23 
V. LOCAL FULL-TIME PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES 25 
VI. “THE HEALTH SITUATION IN OUR COUNTY" 29 
CHARTS 
Chart Page 
I. Number of persons per effective physician, by counties, 
South Dakota, April 1946 .. 12 
n. Number of persons per dentist, by counties, South Dakota, 
April, 1946 17 
III. Hospitals approved by the American College of Surgeons, 
showing 35-mile radius and number of beds, South Da- 
kota, April, 1946 19 
IV. General-Care hospitals and maternity homes, South Dakota, 
April, 1946 22 
V. Cities and villages in which new hospitals or additions to 
existing hospitals are being discussed or planned, South 
Dakota, April, 1946 24 
VI. Local full-time public health personnel, by counties, 
South Dakota, April, 1946 30 
vn. Proposed district health units, population, and number of 
square miles in each, South Dakota 39 TABLES 
Table Page 
1. Physicians in active practice, by age groups, in years 1910, 1920, 
1930, 1940, and 1946, South Dakota, April, 1946 40 
2. Physicians in active practice in years 1910, 1920, 1930, and 
1940, in cities which in 1940 had a population of 2,500 or 
more, South Dakota 41 
i 
3. Average number of persons per effective physician in years 
1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940 in cities which in 1940 had a 
population of 2,500 or more, South Dakota 42 
4. Physicians in active practice and average number of persons to 
each effective physician, by counties, South Dakota, April, 
1946 43 
5. Classification of counties as to number of persons to each ef- 
fective physician, South Dakota, April, 1946 44 
6. Number of additional physicians needed, by counties, South 
Dakota, April, 1946 45 - 46 
7. Average number of square miles per physician, by counties, 
South Dakota, April, 1946 47 
8. Number of osteopaths, by counties, South Dakota, April, 1946 48 
9. Number of chiropractors, by counties, South Dakota, April, 1946.... 49 
10. Number of dentists and additional dentists needed, by counties, 
South Dakota, April, 1946 50 
11. Classification of counties as to number of persons per dentist, 
South Dakota, April, 1946 51 
12. General-care hospitals approved by the American College of 
Surgeons, by counties, South Dakota, April, 1946 52 
13. General-care hospitals registered by the American Medical As- 
sociation and ratio of beds to population, by counties, South 
Dakota, April, 1946 - 52-53 
14. General-care hospitals, by counties, South Dakota, April, 1946.... 54 - 55 
15. General-care hospitals and ratio of beds to population, by 
counties, South Dakota, April, 1946 56 - 57 
16. Maternity homes approved by State Board of Health, number of 
beds, South Dakota, January, 1946 58 TABLES 
Table Page 
17. Cities and villages having one or more physicians but no gen- 
eral-care hospital; number of miles to nearest general-care 
hospital, South Dakota, January, 1946 59 - 60 
18. Incorporated cities and villages of 500 or more population in 
which no physician is located and which are 20 miles or more 
to the nearest physician; number of miles to the nearest phy- 
sician and to the nearest general-care hospital, South Dakota, 
January, 1946 61 
19. Incorporated cities and villages of 1,000 or more population in 
which no physician is located and which are less than 20 miles 
to the nearest physician, South Dakota, January, 1946 62 
20. Hospitals which have been closed in recent years and reason for 
closing, South Dakota, January, 1946 63 
21. Cities and villages in which new hospitals, replacement of 
existing hospitals, or additions to hospitals are being discussed, 
South Dakota, April, 1946 64 - 65 
22. Ambulance facilities, by counties, South Dakota, January, 
1946 - 66 - 67 
23. Local full-time public health personnel, by counties, South 
Dakota, April, 1946 - 68 - 69 
24. Status of municipal water supplies, South Dakota, January, 
1946 _ - 70-71-72-73-74 
25. Municipalities with control of milk supply, South Dakota, 
January, 1946 75 
26. Proposed district health units and amount one-half mill tax 
levy on 1945 valuation would provide toward total expense 
of units, South Dakota, April, 1946 - 76 - 77 10 
MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
INTRODUCTION 
Purpose of Study 
This report, entitled Medical Care and Health Facilities in South Dakota, 
is presented by the South Dakota State Health Committee to all those who 
are interested in the health and welfare of our people. It is the hope of the 
committee that the factual material which this report contains will bring 
about a better understanding of the factors involved and will aid local groups 
in the analysis of their own medical care and health problems. 
Organization of the South Dakota State Health Committee 
In September, 1945, Governor M. Q. Sharpe appointed representatives of 
thirty-two state organizations interested in some phase of the health and 
medical care program to become members of a State Health Committee, and 
invited them to attend a meeting held in the capitol on September 12. Gover- 
nor Sharpe explained that the various organizations had been asked to rec- 
ommend the representatives and .that his appointments had been made ac- 
cordingly. With the appointment by the Governor, the committee was thus 
given a semi-official status. Previous to the appointment of this committee 
several meetings were held by a group of interested persons who discussed 
the need for a state-wide health committee. It was the feeling of this group 
that there should be a representative committee which would be concerned 
with health and medical care problems especially as they related to the rural 
sections of the state. 
In outlining the functions of the committee, Governor Sharpe stated that 
it was to be a fact-finding and study organization and was also to serve as a 
co-ordinating and steering committee in developing plans for meeting the 
medical care and health needs of all sections of the state. It was also ex- 
plained that the committee as a whole would not be expected to sponsor legis- 
lation; that proposed legislation would be studied, and that each member of 
the state committee would sponsor it'or not, according to the wishes of the 
organization he represented. 
In order to obtain information relating to the existing health situation in 
each county, the committee sponsored a health survey of each county. Sev- 
eral months ago the committee also decided to sponsor a survey of hospitals 
which is now being carried on by the State Board of Health in cooperation 
with the Commission on Hospital Care. 
Source of Information 
The major part of the information for this study was assembled by repre- 
sentative citizens from the rural and urban areas of each community. The 
survey program in the various counties was directed by county home demon- 
stration agents, county public health nurses or county home managers of the 
Farm Security Administration and County Social Security Directors. 
In addition to the information obtained from the counties, supplementary 
data have been furnished by the State Board of Health, the State Hospital 
Association, the State Medical Association, and the State Dental Association. 
The committee wishes to express appreciation to all who have aided in 
assembling the information for this report. MEDICAL, CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
Direction of Study 
The preparation of this report and the analysis of the material, has been 
carried on under the direction of Mrs. Marguerite L. Ingram, Field Secretary, 
Health Committee, Northern Great Plains Council.i Mrs. Ingram has con- 
ducted similar studies for the state health committees of North Dakota and 
Wyoming. 
Scope of Study 
This study has been largely confined to a description of the medical and 
health facilities of the state. Since the report on the survey of hospitals will 
be published in the near future, very little information regarding that phase 
of the problem is included in this report. 
This study of the medical care and health facilities was not intended to 
include an analysis of the adequacy of the services, of costs, or of the methods 
of payment. In an analysis of the total health problem, the following aspects 
must be considered: 
1. The need for additional medical care and health facilities. 
2. The adequacy of services rendered by the existing medical care and 
health facilities. 
3. The financial methods by which adequate curative and preventive 
medical and dental services may be made available to all. 
As the basic information for the consideration of all phases of the prob- 
lem, the committee decided that a study of the existing medical care and 
health facilities in each county would be undertaken first. 
Need for Organization of Local Interest 
If all communities in the state can coordinate their efforts toward the 
betterment of their health and medical care facilities, it is thought that a way 
will be found by which adequate medical, dental, hospital and health services 
may be made reasonably accessible to each individual regardless of whether 
he resides in an urban center or a rural area. 
If those interested in the extension of medical care and health facilities 
for their communities can assist the State Health Committee in formulating 
a unified program, our coordinated efforts directed toward definite goals 
should result in a comprehensive and constructive health program for our 
state. 
i The program of the Health Committee of the Northern Great Plains Council has 
been made possible through funds granted by the Farm Foundation, Chicago, 111. 12 
MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
CHART I—NUMBER OP PERSONS PER EFFECTIVE PHYSICIAN, BY COUNTIES, SOUTH DAKOTA—APRIL, 1946. 
/.ess tfor /,SOO pereors to eocft effect/re pfys/c/er 
/,£00 to /, 999 pers-orjc to eoct? effect/rt p/?</s-/c/<7r 
2.000 to Z, 999 pereors to eoct? effect/re pt/ye/c/'en 
3.000 to -4,999 persons- to eecf effect/re pf/s/c/a/l 
5.000 or rjore persore to eoct? effect/re pt/t/s/c/or? 
A/O pt/ye/cr/ac? MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
13 
MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES IN SOUTH DAKOTA 
I. MEDICAL CARE FACILITIES 
Situation in the Past 
In any study of the situation relating to the distribution of the medical 
facilities, one must be aware of past trends to be able to know all the factors 
which are influencing the present situation. The shortage of physicians in 
South Dakota which is one of the most important problems to be considered 
is due to a number of causes. One of the causes is due to the fact that dur- 
ing the past several decades the number of physicians graduating each year 
has not kept pace with the nation’s increase in population. According to a 
recent statement i of the United States Public Health Service, the population 
of the United States from 1910 to 1940 increased 43%, whereas the number 
of persons graduating annually from approved medical schools during that 
same period increased only by 15%. 
In the rural states, the situation has been further complicated by the fact 
that some physicians left the smaller communities for the larger centers or 
moved out of these rural states to locate in the more populous centers of the 
industrial states. 
In Table 1 is shown the number of physicians in active practice in the 
census years of the past four decades. In 1910 there were 661 physicians in 
active practice located in 269 cities and villages. Of this number only 17 or 
5% were 65 years of age and over. By 1940 there were physicians located in 
only 162 cities and villages and the number of physicians had decreased to 
403. Of the 403, 82 or 20% were 65 years of age and over. In the period 1910 
to 1940 the population of the state had increased 10% while the number of 
physicians during that period decreased 40%. 
Relating the population to the number of “effective” physicians it is 
found that in 1910 there was an average of 913 persons to each effective 
physician whereas in 1940 there were 1,846 persons to each effective physi- 
cian. This represents an increase of 102% over the number of persons to each 
effective physician in 1910. 
In making an analysis of the situation in 1946, it was necessary to use 
the 1940 census population which may be somewhat higher than the present 
population in some of the counties. In the analysis which is being made in 
the hospital survey of the number of additional hospital beds needed, the 
1940 census population has been used as the base. It was thought feasible, 
therefore, to use the same base for the computations for this study. 
In 1946, the number of cities and villages having physicians is 115, a de- 
crease of 30% since 1940. The number of physicians in active practice in 
April, 1946 was 331 of which 99 or 30% are 65 years of age and over. The 
number of persons to each effective physician increased in the last six year 
period to 2,426, which is 31% above the number in 1940. 
In analysing the situation in the larger cities of the state, it is found 
that the number of persons to each effective physician in the cities also in- 
creased from decade to decade, in some instances at a higher rate than for 
the state as a whole. In South Dakota, it would appear, therefore, that it 
i U. S. Public Health Service, letter dated May 9, 1946, 14 
MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
was not entirely a case of a migration of physicians from small towns to 
larger cities in the state, but rather one in which there was a decreasing num- 
ber of physicians in both urban and rural sections of the state. 
As indicated in the sharp decrease during the past six years in the num- 
ber of localities having physicians, it appears that many of the physicians 
who left their practice in small towns to enter military service have not re- 
turned to their former location, or older physicians who retired during that 
period are not being replaced. 
Some of the reasons stated as to why physicians have been unwilling-to 
locate in small communities, especially in rural areas, are as follows: 
1. Lack of accessible hospital and laboratory facilities. 
2. Lack of contact with specialists and consultants. 
3. Lack of opportunity for post-graduate study or vacations. 
4. Lack of adequate income during depression periods. 
Since the number of physicians was constantly decreasing in the pre-war 
years, especially in the rural states, it is presumed that unless very definite 
steps are taken to eliminate the causes of the trend, the reduction in the 
number of physicians will continue in the post-war period. 
It should be emphasized that when effective physicians are mentioned, a 
sizeable proportion of these are specialists limiting their practice exclusively 
to their specialty. Included in this classification are specialists in eye, ear, 
nose and throat, pediatrics, orthopedics, allergy, internal medicine and a few 
who are limiting their practice almost exclusively to general surgery, and 
other specialties. Subtracting all of these from the general effective list, the 
need for a larger number of qualified general practitioners becomes increas- 
ingly apparent. 
Standards of Medical Care During War Period 
At the beginning of the war period it became necessary to determine the 
relative medical needs of the armed forces and those of the civilian popula- 
tion. It was agreed by the American Medical Association and other agencies 
that if minimum standards of medical care were to be maintained for the 
civilian population, one physician was needed for each 1,500 persons. It was 
considered that the situation was “critical” when there was an area in which 
there were 3,000 or more persons being served by one physician. Previous 
to the war there were various estimates made as to how many persons a 
physician might serve adequately, such estimates all being less than 1,500 
persons. 
Number of Persons Served by Each Physician 
In Table 4 is shown the average number of persons served by each effec- 
tive physician in the various counties. It will be noted that in Table 5 there 
are only five counties which come within the minimum of having a physician 
for each 1,500 persons or less. In these five counties, however, resides 20.9% 
of the population of the state. There are 36 of the 69 counties, containing 
41.1% of the population of the state which have a ratio of 3,000 or more per- 
sons per effective physician and which, according to the war-time standard, 
are areas in which the medical care situation would be considered “critical.” 
In 10 of these counties in which 5.5% of the population resides, there is no 
physician. In 4 other counties having a large area, the only physician is 65 
years of age and over. MEDICAL. CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
15 
Additional Physicians Needed 
In order to have a ratio of one effective physician to each 1,500 persons 
or less in all counties in South Dakota, it is found that 163 additional physi- 
cians are needed (Table 6). If the present number of physicians in the coun- 
ties now having less than 1,500 persons to each effective physician remained 
the same, 169 additional physicians would be needed to provide a ratio of 
1,500 persons or less per physician in each county. If, however, any of the 
physicians 65 years of age and over were to retire and be replaced by physi- 
cians in a younger age group, the additional number of physicians needed to 
bring all counties within the minimum standard would be less than 169. 
Area Served by Each Physician 
In areas of sparse population, it would seem that in addition to the fac- 
tor of the number of persons to be served and the age of the physician, the 
size of the area to be served must also be considered in any planning for the 
provision of an adequate medical care program. 
In Table 7 showing the average number of square miles to each physician 
in the various counties, it is found that 6 of the 7 counties having an area of 
1,000 square miles or more, have only one physician in the county. The lack 
of telephone service in many rural areas and poor road conditions during 
winter months has constituted a formidable obstacle in obtaining medical 
services in these sparsely settled areas, especially when emergency care has 
been needed. Due to these factors and the time element in travel, it would 
seem that if adequate medical service is to be provided to persons residing in 
sparsely settled areas, the number of physicians required for those areas 
should be greater than in more populous areas. 
Availability of Medical Personnel 
In any planning for the extension of medical services, communities should 
be cognizant of the present national shortage of physicians and medical 
auxiliary personnel. Even with the return of many physicians from military 
service, there will still be a shortage of physicians to care for the civilian 
population. There are several factors which have brought about this situa- 
tion. One is that during the war years, when the younger physicians left for 
military service, older physicians had to bear heavy responsibilities. Be- 
cause of the strain they have undergone, they are now having to retire at an 
earlier age than was the case in former years. 
Another factor affecting the supply of physicians has come as a result 
of a Selective Service regulation under which men eligible for military serv- 
ice were not deferred for medical education. Due to this ruling the number 
of graduates of medical schools during the next few years will be much 
smaller than usual. 
One factor affecting the supply of physicians for care of civilians is 
the increased demand for medical personnel in veterans’ hospitals and 
military hospitals. 
The fourth factor affecting the present supply of physicians is that 
many physicians who have been in the armed forces, especially those who 
entered military service immediately upon graduation from medical school, 
are expecting to spend one or two years in further study before starting 
their civilian practice. MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
Since this acute shortage of physicians may continue for several or 
more years, the extension of hospital and other medical care facilities will 
be necessarily retarded. Expanded medical care and hospital facilities will 
be of little assistance if there is an insufficient number of physicians and 
nurses to provide the services. 
It is considered that the recent extension of the Medical School of the 
University of South Dakota from a two year course to a four year course 
will be of assistance in increasing the supply of physicians for this state. MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
CHART II—NUMBER OF PERSONS PER DENTIST, BY COUNTIES, SOUTH DAKOTA—APRIL, 1946. 
lesj> tha/7 2, OOO yoe/vo/rsr to each cterrt/lst 
2.000 to 2,999 to each desrt/a-t 
3.000 to 4,999 />erso/7S to each c/e/it/st 
3.000 to more /2<?/'.so/7s to each a/eot/st 
/to c/eat/sts MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
H. DENTAL CARE FACILITIES 
Number of Persons Served by Each Dentist 
In order to assure minimum standards for dental service for the civi- 
lian population during the war emergency, it was considered, by the Ameri- 
can Dental Association and public health agencies, that one dentist was 
needed for each 2,000 persons. In Table 10 it is shown that in South 
Dakota at present there is an average of one dentist to each 2,417 persons. 
In Table 11 it is shown that 34.9% of the state’s population residing in 
14 counties comes within the minimum war-time standard of having one 
dentist to each 2,000 persons or less. 22.3% of the population residing in 
27 counties has either 4,000 or more persons per dentist or has no dentist 
in the county. 
Additional Dentists Needed 
In order to have a ratio of 2,000 persons or less per dentist in all coun- 
ties. 55 additional dentists are needed. If the present number of dentists 
in the counties now having less than 2,000 persons per dentist, however, re- 
mained the same, 86 additional dentists would be needed to provide a ratio 
of 2,000 persons or less per dentist in each county. MEDICAL. CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
19 
CHART III—HOSPITALS APPROVED BY THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OP SURGEONS, SHOWING 35 MILE RADIUS 
AND NUMBER OP BEDS, SOUTH DAKOTA—APRIL, 1946. 
A/omber Indicates total number of beds- /n hospitals 
ayo/orared by the American Col/eye of Jfunyeons . 
i Journal of American Medical Association, April 20, 1946. 
Veterans’ hospitals and state institutions are not included. 20 
MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
Distribution of Hospital Facilities 
III. HOSPITAL FACILITIES 
When the report of the hospital survey is completed, detailed informa- 
tion will be available as to the facilities in existing hospitals and as to the 
communities which are in need of additional hospital facilities. In this re- 
port there is information pertaining only to the distribution of the present 
hospital facilities. 
In Table 12 is shown the number of general-care hospitals which are 
approved by the American College of Surgeons. Chart III shows the loca- 
tion of these fifteen hospitals, the number of beds and the area covered by 
a 35-mile radius. Federal and state instiutions in South Dakota which are 
approved by the American College of Surgeons are not included in this 
list. 
In Table 13 is shown the number of general-care hospitals which are 
registered by the American Medical Association, and the ratio of beds in 
those hospitals to the population of the county. In these 43 general-care 
hospitals in South Dakota there is a total of 2,243 beds or 3.5 beds per 
1,000 population. The average number of beds per 1,000 population in in- 
stitutions registered by the American Medical Association for the United 
States is 3.51.i In 36 of the 69 counties of the state there is no hospital 
registered by the American Medical Association. In these 36 counties re- 
sides 34.7% of the population of the state. 
In Table 14 is listed all general-care hospitals in the state, these hos- 
pitals providing a total bed capacity of 2,470. This number provides a 
ratio of 3.8 beds per 1,000 population. Of these 58 hospitals, 15 are not 
registered by the American Medical Association and 43 are not approved 
by the American College of Surgeons. In the 15 hospitals not registered 
by the American Medical Association are a total of 227 beds. 
In addition to the 58 institutions classified as general-care hospitals 
are 45 institutions classified as “maternity homes”. In most instances 
these are private homes in which a limited number of maternity cases are 
accepted for care. Among this group of institutions maintained primarily 
for maternity care are, however, 9 which occasionally provide emergency 
medical or surgical care. 
Number of Hospital Beds Needed 
If adequate hospital care is to be provided for all who need such serv- 
ice, the number of hospital beds required per 1,000 population has been 
estimated at a higher number than the present national average. In a re- 
cent report2 of the U. S. Public Health Service, it states, “For purposes of 
calculating future bed requirements in non-federal general hospitals, 4.5 
beds per 1,000 population has been taken to represent a reasonable stand- 
ard of adequacy. . . . The figure of 4.5 beds per 1,000 population admittedly 
is a compromise between a theoretical ideal and a practical achievement.” 
To compensate for the factor of sparsity of population, this state, no doubt, 
will need a somewhat higher ratio of hospital beds to population than 4.5 
if the hospital needs are to be met adequately. 
1 Journal of the American Medical Association, March 27, 1943. 
2 U. S. Public Health Service, Health Service Areas. Bulletin No. 292, pp. 5. MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
21 
The crowding of the present hospital facilities has been ascribed to 
various causes, some of which are as follows: 
1. With a higher income level during the present period, people are 
better able to pay for hospital care than they were during the de- 
pression period. 
2. With pre-payment hospital insurance, people are able to spread 
the costs of care, and are, therefore, in a better position to afford 
this service. 
3. Under the “Emergency Maternity and Infant Care” program for 
wives and infants of servicemen, obstetrical care in hospitals was 
provided. Under this program the number of births occurring in 
hospitals increased. 
4. With the use of some of the newer treatments and drugs for cer- 
tain conditions and diseases, hospitalization is required, whereas, 
previously, care for these diseases was provided in the home. 
5. With the shortage of physicians, it has not been possible for them 
to make many calls in the homes. In order for physicians to give 
the necessary close supervision of treatment, more persons have 
had to be hospitalized than was previously necessary. 
In Table 17 are listed the 56 cities and villages having one or more 
physicians but which do not have any general-care hospitals. In these 56 
places are located 69 physicians. Of these 69 physicians located in cities 
and villages having no hospitals, 40 are 65 years of age and over. 
In Table 18 are listed the 13 cities and villages having a population of 
500 or more which have no physician and which are 20 miles or more from 
the nearest physician. In Table 19 are listed the 3 cities and villages of 
1,000 or more population which have no physician but which are less than 
20 miles to the nearest physician. 
If younger physicians who have been trained in modern medicine are 
to have the necessary facilities with which to carry on their work, it is ap- 
parent that hospital facilities of some type must be made accessible to 
them. There are many communities in this state far removed from present 
hospital facilities which appear to need some type of hospital facility with- 
in the area. 
Hospitals Closed 
In Table 20 are listed the 13 cities or villages which reported in the 
county health surveys that their hospital had been closed in recent years. 
In a few instances the reason for closing was stated as “lack of funds”. 
In most instances the reason given was the lack of a physician. 
Plans Being Discussed for New Hospitals 
In Table 21 are listed the 43 cities and villages in South Dakota in 
which new hospitals, replacement of existing hospital buildings, or addi- 
tions to existing hospitals are being planned or discussed. The forthcom- 
ing Hospital Survey will contain more complete information pertaining to 
proposed hospital plans for meeting the needs of this state. MEDICAL. CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
CHART IV—GENERAL.CARE HOSFZTAIiSi AND MATERNITY HOMES?, SOUTH DAKOTA—APRIL, 1946. 
1 State Board of Health and Journal of American Medical Association, April 20, 1946. 
2 State Board of Health, list of approved maternity homes, 1946. 
L e&s- t/?£?/? 25 /becfe 0 /nc//&r? /rosyo/ta/ 
25 to 2-9 2><°c/s- o A>f&trer/?/ ty /7o/r?e 
-50 to 72 
75 or- /nofe MEDICAL. CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
IV. AMBULANCE SERVICE 
In studying the situation in the state relating to ambulance service, 
the County Health Surveys, (Table 22), disclosed that there are 14 counties, 
at present, which do not have an ambulance service. It will be noted that 
the rates charged for ambulance service vary greatly from county to county 
and often within the same community. With the long distance those in 
remote areas must go for medical or hospital care, any ambulance service 
becomes a large item of expense. Those residing in rural areas who must 
pay ambulance costs in addition to other medical and hospital costs have, 
therefore, a greater expense in obtaining medical service than do those 
residing in urban areas. MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
CHART V—CITIES AND VILLAGES IN WHICH NEW HOSPITALS OB ADDITIONS TO EXISTING- HOSPITALS ARE 
BEING DISCUSSED OB PEANNEDi, SOUTH DAKOTA—APRIL, 1946. 
i State Board of Health. South Dakota State Health Committee, County Health Surveys, January, 1946. 
C/Z/es erne/ w/Aopes /A tvA/cA fterr Aas-pita/s 
&/'£’ Ae/Ap <//scc/*s'<s’<J or p>/<?/7S7<?c/, 
C/t/es a/rf r///<7t?es /A wA/cA j? reseat 
Aos/?st<y/ /A Zo Ae esf/ar'fec/. MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
V, LOCAL FULL-TIME PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES 
Personnel 
In Table 23 are listeed the number and classification of the full-time 
public health personnel in each county. Chart VI shows 58 counties, in- 
cluding Armstrong County which is unorganized, which have no county- 
wide public health nursing service or other local public health service. In 
two counties, Shannon and Todd, nursing service is provided the Indian 
population through the U. S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. 
Two counties, Minnehaha and Pennington, have public health units. 
Minnehaha County has a full-time health officer while Pennington County 
unit has a part-time health officer. In the Minnehaha County health unit 
are two sanitarians and three public health nurses. The Pennington County 
unit has the services of a sanitary engineer, two sanitarians, and four pub- 
lic health nurses. 
In the other counties are physicians in private practice who serve as 
part-time health officers. In ten counties, including Armstrong County, 
however, there are no physicians and, therefore, there are no part-time or 
full-time health officers. 
In twelve counties the largest city in each provides the services of a 
public health nurse to care for the school population. In Minnehaha and 
Pennington Counties which have a health unit, there is also school nursing 
service provided by the largest city in each county. In the ten other 
counties in which there is school nursing service in the largest city, there 
is no public health nursing service available to the balance of the popula- 
tion in those counties. (Chart VI). 
The school authorities of the following cities are providing the services 
of school nurses: 
Belle Fourche Redfield 
Hayti Sioux Falls 
Huron Vermillion 
Milbank Watertown 
Mitchell Webster 
Rapid City Yankton 
Water Supply Sanitation! 
In Table 24 are listed the municipal water supplies in South Dakota, 
including those which are approved and those in which chlorination is used. 
Municipal water supply sanitary requirements have been established by 
the Conference of State Sanitary Engineers. These requirements were 
used as a guide in determining the supplies in South Dakota that were 
officially granted the approval of the Division of Sanitary Engineering of 
the State Board of Health. Many of the supplies not listed as approved 
could be included in the “Approved” list if and when certain changes are 
made in conformance with the requirements of the Conference of State 
Sanitary Engineers. Some of these changes are relatively minor and others 
involve large expenditures. The occurrance of waterborne disease has been 
i The analysis of the water supply sanitation and the milk sanitation program 
was prepared by Mr. R. G. Spieker of the Division of Sanitary Engineering, 
State Board of Health, under the direction of Mr. W. W. Towne, Director, Divi- 
sion of Sanitary Engineering. 26 
MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
reduced to an all time low in South Dakota, but still the sanitary protec- 
tion of public and semi-public supplies remains as one of the important 
problems facing sanitary engineering personnel of the State Board of Health. 
When a supply is officially approved, the city agrees to a specified 
bacteriological sampling schedule. The state does not require routine 
bacteriological analysis of all municipal supplies. If a municipality wants 
this work done, the State Board of Health will do it free of charge. There 
is a recommended minimum interval of time between routine bacteriological 
samples and a recommended minimum number of samples that should be 
taken. However, these recommended minimum numbers vary according to 
the type of supply, construction, possibility of contamination, degree of 
treatment, etc., and therefore, specified time intervals between routine 
bacteriological samples for unapproved supplies are not included in the 
table because the State Board of Health assumes relatively little control 
over this procedure. Even though the sampling interval may be listed as 
“none specified” the supply can be subjected to varying intervals of samp- 
ling and numbers of samples required by the State Board of Health to 
protect properly the health of the community. A program for establishing 
sampling procedure set forth in the 1946 Standards of the United States 
Public Health Service is being set up by the State Board of Health. 
The interval of time required for bacteriological examinations of water 
supply as determined only for those supplies which are approved by the 
State Board of Health, is as follows: 
1. Deep wells (over 100 ft.—at least twice annually. 
2. Shallow wells (less than 100 ft.)—at least bi-weekly. 
3. Treated water regardless of source—at least bi-weekly. 
4. Any supply which on the last previous analysis indicated contamina- 
tion—as often as the State Board of Health may require. 
Milk Sanitation Program 
Under South Dakota laws the State Department of Agriculture is 
charged with inspection of dairies and milk plants on a statewide basis. 
However, the State Board of Health through the Division of Sanitary Engi- 
neering has interested itself in milk sanitation to the extent of offering 
technical advise and assistance to county and municipal health officers on 
this problem. 
The U.S.P.H.S. Standard Milk Ordinance is used as a basis for the 
State Board of Health program relative to milk sanitation. The adoption 
of the latest edition of this ordinance by municipal governments is recom- 
mended. Under this ordinance the production, processing, and distribution 
of milk is regulated by the municipal health authority. The following 
municipalities in South Dakota have adopted, and are at the present en- 
forcing this ordinance: Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Mitchell, Watertown, Ver- 
million, Pierre, Belle Fourche, Hot Springs, and Edgemont, (Table 25). The 
ordinance has been adopted in all of these municipalities within the last four 
years. Due to the unusual conditions existing during that period relative 
to securing equipment, building or remodeling, and labor, the progress that 
might have been expected in normal times has not been made. However, a 
great deal of progress has been made and in the near future it is expected 
that all of the above named communities will have at least some Grade A. 
milk available. MEDICAL. CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
27 
Since the mere passage of an ordinance by a municipal government 
does not solve the problem of milk sanitation, the State Board of Health 
has entered into an agreement with those municipalities having passed the 
ordinance, whereby, upon their payment of a certain stated sum annually, 
the State Board of Health furnishes inspection and laboratory service for 
the enforcement of the milk ordinances. It is believed that by such a pro- 
gram communities which are too small to afford the full-time services of 
a competent milk sanitarian and are, therefore, forced to put up with a 
questionable milk supply, can secure the services of trained personnel and 
laboratory facilities and thus have the same advantages as the larger com- 
munities, insofar as a safe milk supply is concerned. 
Aside from the local milk sanitation programs which the State Board 
of Health sponsors, other activities relative to milk sanitation are: 
1. Technical advice to and supervision over local inspectors working 
under the cooperative inspection program. 
2. Furnishing these local inspectors with material relative to enforce- 
ment of the local milk ordinance. 
3. Education of milk handlers and milk producers through the local 
health authority. 
4. Approval of plans for new milk pasteurization plants. 
5. Inspection of sources of milk for interstate carriers for U.S.P.H.S. 
6. Enforcement of State Board of Health regulation forbidding use of 
Grade A. label in communities where U.S.P.H.S, Standard Milk 
Ordinance is not in effect. 
Local Health Units 
As stated previously, only two counties, Minnehaha and Pennington, 
have a local health unit at the present time. It has been reported recently, 
however, that plans are being made for the establishment of a health unit 
with headquarters at Aberdeen. If this unit is established, it will probably 
include Brown, McPherson, Edmunds, Walworth and Campbell Counties. The 
inclusion of these counties in such a unit follows the proposed state-wide 
plan as shown in Chart VII. 
As shown in Table 26 and in Chart VII, the proposed health unit plan 
provides for fifteen districts in South Dakota1. According to an analysis 
made by the American Public Health Association, it is considered there 
should be a district health unit for each 50,000 persons or less. In each 
of these units there should be a full-time public health officer, a sanitary 
engineer for each 25,000 persons and a public health nurse for each 5,000 
persons. In the proposed health units, it is thought that if a complete 
health program is to be maintained, there should also be in each unit a 
health educator, a dentist, a laboratory technician and a sanitary inspec- 
tor. To maintain a complete local health program, the annual per capita 
cost is estimated at $1.00. 
Table 26 lists the counties in each of the proposed district health units 
and the amount a one half-mill tax levy on the 1945 valuation would raise 
for this program. In South Dakota there is no special statutory provision 
for the establishment of district health units. In many states, permissive 
legislation has been enacted under which counties may unite to establish a 
i The Commonwealth Fund, Local Health Units for the Nation, pp. 268 - 273. State 
Board of Health. district health unit. In some states, counties are also permitted to assess 
a half-mill tax levy toward the support of this program. In cases in which 
the county tax levy is insufficient to cover the total cost, funds granted 
the state from appropriations made to the U. S. Public Health Service for 
this purpose, can be used to pay the balance of the cost of district health 
units. 
MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES MEDICAL, CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
29 
VI. “THE HEALTH SITUATION IN OUR COUNTY” 
The following excerpts are taken from the general remarks contained 
in the county health surveys made by representative citizens in the various 
communities. The excerpts were selected to show different phases of the 
general health problems in the state and do not describe completely the 
health situatios in each county. Remarks contained in the survey of many 
counties are not included, since they were a repetition of statements taken 
from other county reports. 
Aurora County 
“Roads poor. Train service, one a day; no service for sick people. We 
haven’t a doctor or a dentist in our town, and haven’t had for about eight 
years. There used to be two doctors and a dentist, and plenty to keep 
them all busy. It is 13 miles to the nearest doctor or dentist. Telephone 
service is poor. It is 37 miles to a hospital, and ambulance service is poor 
and very expensive. Our town surely needs a doctor.” 
Beadle County 
“(1) Should have rural school nurse who can give her full time to 
health problems in rural schools only. (2) More dental and immunization 
clinics for children in our rural Schools. (3) In some rural communities, 
more education along health lines—to raise standards of health in the home. 
(4) Community badly in need of more hospital accommodations. (This will 
be corrected in some degree by the two new hospitals). (5) Need more 
dentists, as one must wait from three to six weeks in many cases to get 
an appointment with a dentist.” 
“I do think there should be a health clinic conducted in the schools. 
It has been some time since such has been held. I also think it would add 
much to the health of school children in our school if a hot school lunch 
was served every day. Perhaps I am a crank on the subject, but it must 
be a worthy undertaking or other school districts would not continue the 
practice. Our children ride 14 miles at night in the bus, six in the morn- 
ing.” 
Bon Homme County 
“Our milk supply, while adequate, leaves much to wish for as far as 
cleanliness is concerned. Strong state supervision should be provided. Fur- 
thermore it has been fully eight years since cattle have been tested for 
tuberculosis. I know it is paramount that this should be resumed. A few 
weeks ago, I had an occasion to test the cattle of a conscientious dairy man 
and found three reactors to tuberculosis in a herd of fifteen holstein cattle. 
If this condition prevails in a herd that is well cared for, what must be the 
situation in general?” 
Brookings County 
“We need some sort of check-up of our school children, as some parents 
are too indifferent, and minor ills such as diseased tonsils become serious. 
I recommend that our county or the State Board provide this at regular 
intervals. Our children are often handicapped because of poor health con- 
ditions.” 30 
MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
CHART VI—LOCAL FULL-TIME PUBLIC HEALTH PERSONNEL, BY COUNTIES, SOUTH DAKOTA—APRIL, 1946. 
Note.—In Minnehaha and Pennington Counties, school nursing service also provided by cities of Sioux Falls and Rapid 
City. 
A/o coos? 6y or •S'c/roo//risrs/'/ty , 
Sc/?oo/ /70>r*/'/?y /s? c/fy or/y* 
Coc/rty n/rs/ry serty/oe or/y. 
/=V//- t/me /oujb//c /?eo/t/? ur?/t. 
A'c/rs/ry serr/ce ‘/nd/ans t/?rooyh 
(/. ■S. Soreocy of /nd/on nffo/rs MEDICAL. CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
31 
Brown County 
“In a certain limited territory around where there used to 
be 23 doctors, there are only 3 now. People from this community go to 
doctors in , where there are also hospitals. One usually makes 
an appointment two weeks ahead before going to a dentist. One waits and 
waits for a doctor or makes an appointment a week ahead if it is not 
urgent.” 
Brule County 
“Arrangements are being attempted to raise funds for a hospital in 
Medical care and hospital facilities are about the same as in 
any rural community, very poor. More doctors and dentists are needed in 
our towns; furthermore, it is my firm belief medical insurance is needed 
for all.” 
“Greatest need and real need is a modern hospital. Until provided, we 
cannot be sure of adequate services of doctors, needed for as large a city 
and country served by Nurses also do not feel attracted to 
present hospital facilities. Closest modern hospital is in , 73 
miles away. Past experience shows that our present facilities must take 
care of numerous accidents, especially during tourist season. For such, 
our present hospital facilities are wholly inadequate.” 
“After filling out this questionnaire, one realizes how badly small vil- 
lages are in need of health and medical care facilities. Now that the war 
is over, it should be possible at least to have a doctor and inspection serv- 
ice in every city, big or small. We owe that much not only to ourselves 
but also to the boys that are coming home from war—boys who fought and 
bled for a better world to live in. I’m glad Governor Sharpe has appointed 
a State Health Committee is in need of a good doctor.” 
Butte County 
“I wish to say we haven’t any medical care in our community. When 
an emergency arises, we must either drive over rough graveled roads to 
and take a chance on seeing a doctor there, or, many times I 
have known people to go there and couldn’t get to see a doctor without an 
appointment so they had to drive 65 miles to About half of 
the way there to the roads are very rough and in wet weather 
or winter time are almost impassable. The hospital that they have in 
is a makeshift sort of place, not to be considered in any cir- 
cumstance if anything else is to be had.” 
Charles Mix County 
“There are alleys in our town in need of a clean-up. One cafe is very 
careless in regard to disposing of garbage and has been all summer . , .” 
“. . . Rats are very numerous here and really should be taken care of. 
Our milk is brought in by farmers and is from clean homes, but they have 
no way of having it pasteurized.” 
“The government takes care of the health of the Indians, and the 
white people shift for themselves. , . .” 
“Medical care in the community is practically non-existent. Town 
would be an easy prey to serious epidemic. Civic organizations should take 32 
MEDICAL. CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
immediate steps to procure some measure of protection. Getting a doctor 
would be the best way to start.” 
Campbell County 
% 
“There has been a crying need for medical facilities of some kind in 
this county. We have been without a doctor for several years. We have 
no hospital, we have no medical service at all. Also there is only one drug 
store and that is in the far corner of the county. Our population is approxi- 
mately 5,000. It is necessary to travel from 27 to 40 or even 100 miles to 
secure proper treatment, and that, if travel conditions are poor, puts us 
under a real handicap. In fact, in some instances it is almost a case of a 
patient getting well, being crippled, or dying all by himself. This state- 
ment might seem a bit strong in this day and age, but as far as medical 
and surgical help are concerned, you could just as well write the word 
‘BLANK’ across the pages of Campbell County.” 
Clay County 
“I believe at the present time that we are in need of more doctors. 
Those in neighboring towns are much too busy to give the care and atten- 
tion needed. A person requiring medical care is much too uncomfortable 
to wait in an office for hours as we have to do. I do not blame our doc- 
tors, but I do feel that a few available doctors are compelled to be in 
charge of too large a territory.” 
Corson County 
“In this community instead of remarks pertaining to medical care, we 
literally would be limited to the phrase, ‘Absolutely None’, because for any 
medical care we must go outside the community almost 50 miles or further, 
or call in a doctor to travel the same distance. Needless to say, in the 
case of serious accidents or epidemics we are in an extremely helpless posi- 
tion. Until some five years ago, we had a doctor in this community, and 
he serviced the territory some 50 by 80 miles in size. After his death, 
this territory is literally without medical services. There are three or four 
thousand people living in this area. Matters of communicable disease, 
quarantine, and other items that are handled by public health officers are 
not securing the attention they should.” 
“Indian service doctor spends one day per week in public 
school for Indian community as a whole. Does not serve white people. 
Medical service for whites is not merely inadequate—it is non-existent. 
Epidemics reach greater proportions because of the lack of immediate medi- 
cal attention, and lack of medical facilities when epidemic is in progress. 
We must go outside the community for any medical attention, due to lack 
of facilities in this community.” 
“No doctor or hospital in entire county. Very serious condition. No 
nurse in county. Schools present an alarming problem on contagious 
diseases. Pupils must be taken long distances for vaccination.” 
“Location of a doctor in the county will present a problem without a 
hospital. I feel that a hospital could be erected within the county if a 
resident doctor could be procured. The health situation in the community 
is really very serious, with only one doctor 31 miles distant, who has a MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
very large territory surrounding that city. It is almost impossible to get 
help in case of an emergency. This doctor resides in Perkins County, and 
I believe he is the only doctor available for both Perkins and Corson 
County.” 
Day County 
“We are sure up against a real problem when anyone is taken sick 
suddenly. There are so many old people around this village it is a shame 
that we do not have a good doctor closer than 35 miles.” 
“It is my contention that each small village should have some sort of a 
medical office for first aid treatments, etc. I would be willing to do my 
share in regard to this matter, if some health plan should be worked out 
for the benefit of the citizens of our community.” 
Dewey County 
“County nurse service discontinued for lack of funds. No doctor now 
located within the entire county. The medical care is practically non- 
existent and must be obtained outside of the county when needed.” 
“. . . It does seem that there should be some Government encourage- 
ment for doctors or nurses to come into this type of community to help 
out. The state used to send in doctors and nurses on different occasions, 
which apparently has been discontinued, and was quite an advantage to us 
all. 
“One of the main things we miss here is people having an opportunity 
to have their water analyzed for drinking purposes. It used to be that 
anyone could send a sample of their water from their wells into the labora- 
tory and it was tested and returned immediately, as to whether or not it 
was fit for drinking. The Government could do a great service for our 
people if they could provide laboratory service along this line, and the peo- 
ple would be willing to pay a reasonable charge.” 
Douglas County 
“. . . In this community there is no medical care of any kind—no doc- 
tor or dentist. The situation is more serious than indicated, however, be- 
cause there is no medical care in neighboring communities, and in the one 
to the north where there is a physician, he is overworked and cannot serve 
this community in addition to his own. Practically all of our people must 
drive 25 to 40 miles to visit a physician, and then find them so busy they 
cannot get their needs adequately cared for. There are an estimated six 
to seven thousand people here who have no medical care, 
“Suggestion: Train some doctors who understand something about how 
people live in rural areas. Not all people in the United States live in 
cities.” 
Edmunds County 
“Like all small communities, even a distance of 28 miles works a hard- 
ship when hospitalization is necessary. A small county hospital would be 
a fine thing. More convenient, too, and would be the means of holding a 
good doctor in this locality.” MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
Faulk County I 
. . Transportation is another large item, since we have no train 
passenger service. We have a bus, but it is in poor condition and is no 
place for anyone who is ill to ride. Consequently, in each town some loyal 
citizen who has fair tires, has to take his car and transport these elderly 
people, also our widows and orphans to and from doctors and hospitals.” 
Grant County 
“At one time we had a county school nurse. It was part of a W.P.A. 
project. I think this was a very good thing for our rural schools. I 
think the rural school should have a nurse that goes to visit the schools 
and check the children’s health and habits. We have a very fine hospital 
but at present it is very crowded. We need an Old People’s Home in our 
county.” 
Haakon County 
“. . . There is one doctor at He is a good one, but has 
such a large practice that really sick people often wait for hours in his 
office to see him. It takes so long to see him that unless patients are in 
acute misery they just don’t bother. We can’t expect top health service 
out here in this sparsely populated region, but what we should have is at 
least two doctors in and a county network of gravel 
roads to enable us to get to a doctor. We should also have a county 
nurse. These three things are urgently needed and are entirely reason- 
able. But the most critical need is for another doctor.” 
Hand County 
“We have biannual immunization clinics held in different areas of the 
county to accommodate the community. One of our local doctors is in 
charge. Home nursing classes are held in the court house, in the public 
health nurse’s office for those interested, at least one class during the 
school year. 
“We have physical education programs in our school, with a physician 
check-up for each child before he is permitted to take part. The physical 
check-up is offered to the children by the local doctors. However, those 
that do not take advantage of the doctor’s examination may be checked by 
the public health nurse and referred if it is found necessary. . . .” 
“Clinics for immunization of school children are held in every 
six months with good attendance. People and stores are anxious to have 
100% pasteurized milk, but within the past few weeks there has been a 
grave shortage of even raw milk.” 
Harding County 
“Perhaps there are but few communities in the entire United States 
that are worse off than the west half of Harding County when it comes 
to medical care. As previously stated, up until about ten years ago we 
at had a good hospital, well equipped and well staffed. Since then 
we have had no doctors except those mentioned in connection with the 
county welfare set-up and two different osteopaths that practiced at MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
and made weekly trips to , but these have now been dis- 
continued. 
“There are no hospital facilities there either, the nearest being , 
72 miles away. These are long miles for a sick person, even though our 
dirt roads are passible at the time, and many months of the year they 
are impassible, due to mud and snow. 
“During the winter of 1943-44 and again in 1944-45, the roads were 
completely blocked for as much as ten days at a time. They would then 
be opened up and would again become blocked within a day or two, thus 
shutting us off from the outside world for another uncertain period. Dur- 
ing these winters, it was necessary to have sick persons carried out on 
airplanes that were equipped with skis so they could land and take off 
again. This is expensive, hazardous, and very uncertain means of trans- 
porting sick persons to medical care. Surely we in Harding County de- 
serve something more in the way of medical care than what we have. 
Hutchinson County 
, I don’t believe anything has been done with respect to child health 
service in this county since the county nurse was discontinued. I’d like to 
see some action. Some day a diphtheria or smallpox epidemic will hit this 
county and there will be plenty of ‘material’.” 
Jackson County 
“A county nurse would be fine, but the county lacks necessary funds. 
We should have more county health clinics.” 
Jones County 
“The county nurse through school children examinations with occa- 
sional visits by examining physicians are the only public health facilities 
ever had in this community. Pre-school clinics with sufficient time for 
the examinations could be a benefit.” 
“This is a small community and could hardly support a full-time doc- 
tor or dentist, but a doctor or dentist could come from a neighboring town 
probably three days a week to take care of the needs of this community. 
The nearest doctor is located at , and he has so many patients to 
care for that he is overworked. He has to travel hundreds of miles each 
week to take care of the sick. Our medical situation could be greatly im- 
proved if we even had a county nurse.” 
“Health situation poor, especially because of lack of dentist service 
and lack of good water supply.” 
Kingsbury County 
“. . . The large revenue that comes into our state of South Dakota 
from hunting license sales could be put into many uses for the health 
program of our state. One suggestion could be that cities very interested 
in having hospital facilities, such as , could probably go ahead with 
a substantial appropriation from this revenue, I don’t believe doctors will 
be attracted to this locality without hospital facilities and I know we need 
them badly for such a large territory as this. Doctors and dentists are 
urgently needed here.” MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
“We consider the situation in and vicinity very serious. In 
cases where a patient can travel 32 miles to consult a physician he is often 
forced to wait as long as eight hours and in many cases must enter a hos- 
pital and remain two or three days to get attention of any kind. Time and 
money often prevent persons from receiving care. In cases of emergency 
even first aid is out of the question and the chances for saving a life de- 
pend on reaching the hospital in time. 
“Milk supply is short and in need of inspection. Many people are em- 
ployed in handling food who are unfit for same and a health certificate for 
same should be required. We feel that a county nurse could be of great 
service here in helping combat disease and bad health habits in the schools.” 
Lawrence County 
. . The condition of some dairy barns from which raw milk is sold 
should be inspected. There should be more rigid law in regard to care of 
dairy cows, barns, feed and care of the milk, etc., as there are in some 
states. The creamery which distributes milk should be forced to pasteurize 
it. This community should have a school or community nurse, or the county 
nurse at should have an assistant, as there is too much work for 
one person to cover thoroughly. 
“A better water system would be a great improvement to' the health 
of this village.” 
“It is my belief that adequate medical care will not be provided until 
some form of socialized medicine is introduced to the community, as the 
average family income is much too low as compared to the high cost of 
medical care.” 
Lincoln County 
“I would suggest a regular one-day-a-week office hours for a good 
physician. Many of this town’s citizens are too old to drive to a neigh- 
boring town for medical treatment.” 
Lyman County 
“Deplorable is the only word I know to describe our medical situation. 
A county nurse is badly needed here, in my opinion, and I believe it 
would be a good location for a doctor.” 
Marshall County 
“Without any exaggerations, we have simply no medical or health con- 
veniences in our community. Roads are good in the summer, but become 
blocked for days at a time during the winter. There is no bus service. 
The school well has water that is unfit for use. At times it is almost im- 
possible to see a doctor and it is necessary to wait several months for den- 
tal care.” 
Meade County 
“The medical care and health situation in this territory is serious and 
a hospital with an efficient staff is certainly needed badly. Due to the 
great distance to a hospital and condition of roads during much of the 
time, there are many cases where a few hours time in getting to a hospital 
become a serious matter.” MEDICAL. CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
37 
“We are in a position where we must have more medical services as 
soon as we can possibly get them. We badly need a small hospital to serve 
this area. We also need to develop a more extensive health program to 
adequately cover the area, and to carry out the services that are needed. 
In fact, we need to go a long way in improving our health program. We 
are willing to do everything we can to help this matter along.” 
Miner County 
“. . . A small hospital well equipped should be established in the county 
where each medical man could take his patients for surgery, confinement, 
etc. Major surgery of course could be referred. As it is now with the 
present prosperity, everyone wants to go to a distant hospital regardless, 
and they are urged to go by every one and every organization under the 
sun. This situation in itself is creating the lack of medical care one reads 
about. Doctors in larger cities have no monopoly of medical knowledge, 
but they do have of facilities.” 
“Much of the medical care is a hit and miss proposition, as most folks 
merely call at the doctor’s office and don’t go back for observation. Most 
farmers and low income workers never see a doctor until they are about 
ready for the undertaker, and then it is tod late. Now that the war is 
over, it is high time to have a community hospital, dentist, etc., so that 
the people can have the opportunity to check up on their health at low 
cost, and try to acquire health equal to that of hogs and cattle.” 
Moody County 
“One of the needs of the county at present is a good county nurse to 
work in collaboration with the school systems and thus discover many minor 
ailments which when neglected may result in more harmful affects.” 
“. . . There is a great need for more health education and supervision 
of public health rules. I feel that practicing physicians should be forced 
to either take “catch up courses” or take examinations every few years as 
so many do not keep abreast of the newer treatments.” 
Perkins County 
“, , . Improved farm conditions and prices these past four or five years 
have affected the health situation in that people now have money and are 
more apt to take their children to a doctor, or a clinic, than in the years 
when times were bad and there was little money to spend on health unless 
the patient were seriously affected. More mothers go to hospitals for child- 
birth, and seek a physician’s care in the pre-natal period more so than a 
few years ago.” 
Sanborn County 
“We really need more doctors. Now we have to write six or eight 
weeks in advance for an appointment. Then you won’t have a chance un- 
less you are a regular patient. I really believe South Dakota could keep 
twice as many doctors and dentists busy for the next few years. There 
could be much more done on compulsory tests for T.B. and social diseases. 
Then the patients should be made to take treatments and proper precau- 
tions to protect the public. More information would help too. There MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
should be more information about the institutions for the insane and feeble 
minded. Some people won’t send members of their families to these places 
because they think it is a disgrace. When really it would be a kindness to 
the persons who are mentally ill or feeble minded.” 
“For this city and community it would be well if we could get a doctor 
who does not care to practice surgery. We would like to get a middle 
aged doctor who would be interested in general practice.” 
Tripp County 
“. . . We have a ‘horse doctor’ in town. When a horse or hog is sick 
we telephone and he comes, but if a member of the family gets sick, we’re 
out of luck in getting a doctor.” 
Washabaugh County 
“Should have more health clinics within reasonable distances that we 
can take family to at times of the year that we can get out. The clinics 
we have are always in the winter time, and it takes us two or three days 
to get to them if the roads are impassable at the time. 
“We used to have a county nurse that did very valuable work in this 
territory. Cannot understand why this service was discontinued, unless it 
was by some board who wanted to save a few dollars on taxes and cause 
the individual tax payers to pay much more when some of the sicknesses 
could have been eliminated with the above mentioned service.” 
Yankton County 
“. . . The medical care and health of this community is a big question. 
It is certain that this community could have a lot better medical care. Peo- 
ple are not checked for ailments until they go to the doctor themselves, 
and in a lot of cases it is too late and the patients die. Doctors can’t per- 
form miracles, and if people could be checked say twice a year the doctors 
would be able to save a lot of them.” MEDICAL, CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
CHART VII—PROPOSED DISTRICT HEALTH UNITSi, POPULATION:’, AND THE NUMBER OP SQUARE MIEES IN 
EACH 
1 State Board of Health. 
2 U. S. Bureau of the Census, 16th Census of the United States, 1940. MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
TABLE I—PHYSICIANS IN ACTIVE PRACTICE, BY AGE GROUPS, IN YEARS 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, AND 1946 IN 
SOUTH DAKOTA—APRIL, 1946 
Tear 
Populationi 
No. Cities 
and Villages 
Having 
Physicians 
Physicians in Active Practice 
Average 
Number Persons 
to Effective* 
Physician 
Total2 
Under 
45 Years 
of Age 
45 to 64 
Tears of 
Age 
65 Tears 
of Age 
and Over 
Number 
Effectives 
Physicians 
1910 
583,888 
269 
661 
498 
136 
17 
639.7 
913 
1920 
636,547 
236 
638 
317 
283 
38 
612.7 
1,039 
1930 
692,849 
206 
549 
166 
325 
58 
510.3 
1,358 
1940 
642,961 
162 
403 
143 
178 
82 
348.3 
1,846 
1946 
642,961 
115 
331 
97 
135 
99 
265.0 
2,426 
1 U. S. Bureau of the Census, census reports of 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940. The census report of 1940 was used as a basis 
for the 1946 reports, since the U. S. Public Health Service is using that base in computing hospital needs in various 
areas. Using the 1940 population as a base means that the number of persons to each effective physician is probably 
too high, since the 1946 population in most counties is no doubt, lower than the 1940 count. This situation wlil hold 
true in other computations in this report. 
2 Physicians who are retired, or giving full-time to work in service veterans’ hospitals, administration, teaching or pub- 
lic health service, are excluded. 
3 All physicians in active practice and under 65 years of age are counted as “effective” even though not practicing 
full-time. Physicians 65 years of age and over are counted as one-third effective. 
4 It is considered that the optinum number of persons that could be cared for by a physician in 1910 would be less than 
at present due to better facilities and improved means of transportation which allows more time to physicians to care 
for patients. For the war period, the American Medical Association and other medical and health agencies agreed that 
the average number of persons for whom a physician could provide adequate minimum care was 1,500. This number 
would vary in communities in proportion to the density of population and the availability of clinical and hospital 
facilities. MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
TABLE II—PHYSICIANS IN ACTIVE PRACTICE IN YEARS 1910, 1920, 1930, AND 1940 IN CITIES WHICH IN 1940 
HAD A POPULATION OP 2,5 00 OR MORE IN SOUTH DAKOTA 
1910 
1920 
1930 
1940 
Under 
65 
No.2 
Under 
65 
No. 
Under 
65 
No. 
Under 
65 
No. 
65 
Years 
Effective 
65 
Years 
Effective 
65 
Years 
Effective 
65 
Years 
Effective 
City 
Years 
of Age 
Physi- 
Years 
of Age 
Physi- 
Years 
of Age 
Physi- 
Years 
of Age 
Physi- 
of Age 
& Over 
clans 
of Age 
& Over 
clans 
of Age 
& Over 
cians 
of Age 
&Over 
cians 
25 
25. 
31 
1 
31.3 
29 
2 
29.7 
22 
1 
22.3 
5 
5. 
6 
2 
6.7 
6 
1 
6.3 
2 
2 
2.7 
7 
7. 
6 
6. 
5 
5. 
2 
1 
2.3 
7 
1 
7.3 
7 
7. 
3 
1 
3.3 
6 
1 
6. 
Hot Springs . . 
13 
13. 
8 
1 
8.3 
8 
1 
8.3 
4 
1 
4. 
Huron 
9 
2 
9.7 
17 
2 
17.7 
18 
1 
18.3 
7 
5 
8.7 
14 
14. 
9 
1 
9.3 
8 
8. 
7 
7. 
8 
8. 
11 
1 
11.3 
6 
6. 
6 
6. 
3 
3. 
6 
6. 
6 
6. 
4 
2 
4.7 
10 
1 
10.3 
15 
1 
15.3 
15 
15. 
14 
2 
14.7 
5 
5. 
6 
6. 
7 
7. 
4 
4. 
5 
5. 
4 
1 
4.3 
7 
7. 
3 
2 
3.7 
Rapid City ... 
9 
9. 
8 
3 
9. 
13 
1 
- 13.3 
14 
4 
15.3 
Sioux Palls . . 
38 
38. 
54 
6 
56. 
53 
10 
56.3 
33 
9 
36. 
4 
4. 
3 
1 
3.3 
3 
3. 
2 
2. 
Vermillion ... 
6 
1 
6.3 
7 
1 
7.3 
4 
2 
4.7 
4 
4. 
Watertown .. . 
15 
15. 
21 
1 
21.3 
14 
2 
14.7 
12 
3 
13. 
Yankton 
11 
1 
11.3 
12 
12. 
12 
12. 
7 
5 
8.7 
1 Retired physicians, those in veterans’ hospitals, public health, teaching, or administrative service are not included. 
2 All physicians under 65 years of age in active practice are classified as “effective,” those 65 years of age and over be- 
ing counted as one-third effective. MEDICAL. CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
TABLE III—AVERAGE NUMBER OP PERSONS PER EPPECTIVE PHYSICIAN IN YEARS 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940 IN I 
CITIES WHICH IN 1940 HAD A POPULATION OP 2,500 OR MORE IN SOUTH DAKOTA 
1910 
1920 
1930 
1940 
City 
Population 
of City 
Only 
Persons in 
City to Each 
Effective 
Physician 
Population 
of City 
Only 
Persons in 
City to Each 
Effective 
Physician 
Population 
of City 
Only 
Persons in 
City to Each 
Effective 
Physician 
Population 
of City 
Only 
Persons in 
City to Each 
Effective 
Physician 
Aberdeen 
10,753 
—'430 
14,537 
464 
16,465 
554 
17,015 
762 
Brookings 
2,971 
594 
3,924 
586 
4,376 
694 
5,346 
1,980 
Canton 
2,103 
300 
2,225 
371 
2,270 
454 
2,518 
1,094 
Deadwood 
3,635 
500 
2,403 
343 
2,559 
773 
4,100 
683 
Hot Springs 
1,865 
144 
2,141 
204 
3,486 
350 
4,083 
949 
Huron 
5,791 
597 
8,302 
469 
10,946 
598 
10,843 
1,246 
Lead 
8,392 
599 
5,013 
539 
5,733 
717 
7.520 
1,074 
Madison 
3,137 
392 
4,144 
365 
4,289 
715 
5,018 
836 
Mllbank 
2,015 
672 
2,215 
368 
2,389 
396 
2,745 
584 
Mitchell 
6,515 
632 
8,478 
554 
10,942 
729 
10,633 
723 
Mobridge 
1,200 
240 
3,517 
586 
3,464 
495 
3,008 
752 
Pierre 
3,656 
731 
3,209 
746 
3,659 
523 
4,322. 
1,168 
Rapid City 
3,854 
428 
5,777 
642 
10,404 
782 
13,844 
905 
Sioux Falls 
14,094 
371 
25,202 
450 
33,362 
592 
40,832 
1,134 
Sisseton 
1,397 
349 
1,431 
444 
1,569 
523 
2,513 
1,256 
Vermillion 
2,187 
347 
2,590 
355 
2,850 
606 
3,324 
831 
Watertown 
7,010 
467 
9,400 
441 
10,214 
695 
10,617 
817 
Yankton 
3,787 
344 
5,024 
419 
6,072 
506 
6,798 
781 
1 Physicians who are retired, or giving full-time to work in veterans’ hospitals, administration, teaching, or public health 
service are excluded. 
2 All physicians in active practice and under 65 years of age are counted as “effective” even though not practicing full- 
time. Physicians 65 year of age and over are counted as one-third effective. MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
ABLE IV—PHYSICIANS IN ACTIVE PRACTICE AND AVERAGE NUMBER OP PERSONS TO EACH EFFECTIVE 
PHYSICIAN, BY COUNTIES, SOUTH DAKOTA—APRIL, 1946 
County 
Total 
Numberi 
Physicians 
Age Classification 
Numbre 
Average No. Persons 
to Bach 
Effective Physician 
Under 
45 Years 
45 to 65 
Years 
65 Years 
and Over 
Effective2 
Physicians 
Popula- 
tions 
Total 
331 
97 
135 
99 
265.0 
642,961 
2,426 
3 
2 
2,3 
5 387 
2 340 
Beadle 
12 
4 
4 
4 
9.3 
19^648 
2A13 
Bennett 
1 
1 
1.0 
3 983 
3 983 
6 
1 
5 
2 7 
1 0341 
3 793 
Brookings 
7 
4 
3 
7.0 
16 560 
2 366 
Brown 
28 
8 
14 
6 
24.0 
29,676 
L236 
Brule 
34 
2 
1 
2 3 
6 195 
2 693 
Buffalo 
1 
1 
1.0 
1 852 
1 853 
Butte 
5 
1 
2 
2 
3.7 
8^004 
2A63 
Campbell 
15 
1 
1 0 
5 033 
5 033 
Charles Mix 
65 
1 
5.3 
13 449 
2 537 
Clark 
3 
1 
2 
1.7 
8 955 
5 268 
Clay 
5 
2 
2 
1 
4.3 
9,592 
2^331 
Codington 
16 
8 
4 
4 
13.3 
17,014 
1,279 
Corson 
0 
0. 
6 751 
Custer 
36 
3.0 
6 023 
2 008 
Davison 
12 
1 
7 
4 
9.3 
15,336 
L649 
Day 
6 
3 
3 
4 0 
1 3 5 65 
3 391 
Deuel * 
2 
1 
1 
2.0 
8 450 
4235 
Dewey 
34 
2 
1 
2.3 
5 709 
2483 
Douglas 
0 
0. 
6 348 
Edmunds 
2 
2 
2. 
7,814 
3 907 
Fall River 
5 
2 
1 
2 
3.7 
8,089 
2,186 
Paulk 
1 
1 
1.0 
5,168 
5 168 
Grant 
6 
3 
3 
4.0 
1 0,552 
2638 
Gregory 
3 
2 
1 
2.3 
9 554 
4 154 
Haakon 
0 
0. 
3,515 
Hamlin 
4 
1 
i 
2 
2.7 
7,562 
2,801 
Hand 
2 
2 
2.0 
7,166 
3 503 
Hanson 
1 
1 
.3 v 
5'400 
Harding 
0 
0. 
3,010 
Hughes 
6 
2 
2 
2 
4.7 
6,624 
1,409 
Hutchinson 
5 
3 
2 
3.7 
12,668 
3 429 
Hyde 
1 
1 
.3 
3’113 
Jackson 
1 
1 
1.0 
1,995 
1 955 
Jerald 
3 
3 
1.0 
4’752 
4 752 
Jones 
2 
1 
1 
1.3 
2,509 
1 930 
Kingsbury 
2 
2 
.7 
10^831 
Lake 
6 
• 2 
4 
6.0 
12’412 
2 069 
Lawrence 
12 
2 
7 
3 
10.0 
19,093 
1,909 
Lincoln 
4 
3 
1 
3.3 
13,171 
3,991 MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
TABIE IV—PHYSICIANS IN ACTIVE PRACTICE AND AVERAGE NUMBER OP PERSONS TO EACH EPPECTIVE 
PHYSICIAN, BY COUNTIES, SOUTH DAKOTA—APRIL, 1946—Continued 
Total 
Age Classification 
Number 
Effective2 
Physicians 
Popula- 
tions 
Average No. Persons 
to Each 
Effective Physician 
County 
Numberi 
Physicians 
Under 
45 Years 
45 to 65 
Years 
65 Years 
and Over 
1 
1 
.3 
5,045 
X7 
4 
2 
2 
2.7 
9,793 
3,627 
1 
1 
1.0 
8,353 
8,353 
3 
3 
1 
3.0 
8^880 
2,900 
2 
1 
1 
1.3 
9,735 
7,488 
Mellette 
0 
0. 
4,107 
Miner 
4 
i 
i 
2 
2.7 
6^836 
2,532 
Minnehaha 
49 
13 
24 
12 
41.0 
57,697 
1,407 
Moody 
3 
1 
1 
1 
2.3 
9,341 
4,061 
Pennington 
216 
5 
12 
4 
18.3 
23,799 
1,300 
Perkins 
3 
1 
1 
1 
2.3 
6.585 
2,863 
2 
2 
2.0 
4,614 
2,307 
Roberts 
65 
2 
1 
3 
4.0 
15^887 
3,972 
0 
0. 
5,754 
34 
2 
i 
3.0 
5,366 
1,789 
109 
5 
5 
6.7 
12,527 
1,789 
0 
0. 
2,00Uo 
Sully 
1 
i 
1.0 
2,668 
2,668 
Todd 
15 
i 
1.0 
5J14 
5,714 
Tripp 
4 
2 
i 
i 
3.3 
9^937 
3,011 
Turner 
6 
2 
i 
3 
4.0 
13,270 
3,317 
Union 
3 
1 
i 
1 
2.3 
11,675 
5,076 
Walworth 
4 
2 
i 
1 
3.3 
7,274 
2,204 
0 
0. 
1,980 
X 
0 
0. 
1,789 
Yankton 
10 
4 
4 
2 
8.7 
16,725 
1,922 
1 
1 
1.0 
2,875 
2,875 
1 Physicians in veterans hospitals, teaching, administration, or public health service and those who are retired are not 
included. 
2 All physicians in active practice and under 65 years of age are counted as “effective” even though not practicing full- 
time. Physicians 65 year of age and over are counted as one-third effective. 
3 U. S. Bupreau of the Census, 16th Census of the United States, 1940. 
4 All physicians in county are with the U. S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Under the provisions of an old treaty, emerg- 
ency care can be provided the white population of the areas by the physicians at Indian agencies. 
5 One physician with the U. S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. 
6 Two physicians devote full time to the State Sanatorium for Tuberculosis. 
7 One physician 65 years of age or over to serve the county. 
s Two physicians with the U. S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. 
9 Three physicians are with the State School for Feeble Minded. 
xo Includes 42 persons residing in Armstrong county, an unorganized county. MEDICAL. CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
TABLE V—CLASSIFICATION OP COUNTIES AS TO NUMBER OP PERSONS 
TO EACH EFFECTIVE PHYSICIAN, SOUTH DAKOTA—APRIL, 1946. 
Classification; 
No. of Counties 
Total Persons in 
Per Cent 
Persons Per 
in Each 
Counties in Each 
of Total 
Effective Physician 
Classification 
Classification 
Population 
Total 
69 
642,961 
100% 
Less than 1,500 
5 
134,810 
20.9 
1,500 - 1,999 
8 
75,364 
11.7 
2,000 - 2,999 
20 
168,914 
26.3 
3,000 - 3,999 
11 
117.495 
18.3 
4,000 - 4,999 
4 
32,097 
5.0 
5,000 and more 
11 
79,022 
12.3 
Counties having no 
physicians 
10 
32,259 
5.5 
TABLE VI—NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL PHYSICIANS NEEDED, BY COUNTIES, 
SOUTH DAKOTA—APRIL, 1946 
County 
Numberi 
Physicians 
in Active 
Practice 
Number 
Effective2 
Physicians 
No. Persons 
to Each 
Effective 
Physician 
Populations 
Additional 
Physicinas 
Needed4 
Total 
331 
265 
2,426 
642,961 
(162)5 
Aurora 
3 
2.3 
2.340 
5,387 
1 
Beadle 
12 
9.3 
2,113 
19,648 
4 
Bennett 
1 
1.0 
3,983 
3,983 
1 
Bon Homme 
6 
2.7 
3,793 
10,241 
4 
Brookings 
7 
7.0 
2,366 
16,560 
4 
Brown 
28 
24.0 
1.236 
29.676 
0 
Brule 
3 
2.3 
2,693 
6,195 
2 
Buffalo 
1 
1.0 
1,853 
1,853 
0 
Butte 
5 
3.7 
2,163 
8,004 
2 
Campbell 
1 
1.0 
5,033 
5,033 
2 
Charles Mix 
6 
5.3 
2,537 
13,449 
3 
Clark 
3 
1.7 
5,268 
8,955 
4 
Clay 
5 
4.3 
2,331 
9,592 
2 
Codington 
16 
13.3 
1,279 
17,014 
0 
Corson 
0 
0. 
X 
6,755 
4 
Custer 
3 
3.0 
2,008 
6,023 
1 
Davison 
12 
9.3 
1,649 
15,336 
1 
Day 
6 
4.0 
3,391 
13,565 
5 
Deuel 
2 
2.0 
4,225 
8,450 
3 
Dewey 
3 
2.3 
4,391 
5,709 
1 
Douglas 
0 
0. 
X 
6,348 
4 
Edmunds 
2 
2. 
3,907 
7,814 
3 
Pall River 
5 
3.7 
2,186 
8,089 
2 
Paulk 
1 
1.0 
5,168 
5,168 
3 
Grant 
6 
4.0 
2,638 
10,552 
4 MEDICAL. CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
TABLE VI—NUMBER OP ADDITIONAL PHYSICIANS NEEDED, BY 
SOUTH DAKOTA—APRIL 1946—Continued 
COUNTIES, 
* ' 
Numberi 
Physicians 
Number 
No. Persons 
to Each 
Additional 
County 
in Active 
Practice 
Effectives 
Physicians 
Effective 
Physician 
Populations 
Physicinas 
Needed4 
Gregory 
3 
2.3 
4,154 
9,554 
2 
Haakon 
0 
0. 
X 
3,515 
2 
Hamlin 
4 
2.7 
2,801 
7,562 
2 
Hand 
2 
2.0 
3,583 
7,166 
3 
Hanson 
1 
.3 
X6 
5,400 
3 
Harding 
0 
0. 
X 
3.010 
2 
Hughes 
6 
4.7 
1,409 
6,624 
0 
Hutchinson 
5 
4.3 
2,946 
12,668 
4 
Hyde 
1 
.3 
X6 
3,113 
2 
Jackson 
1 
1.0 
1,955 
1,955 
0 
Jerauld 
3 
1.0 
4,752 
4,752 
2 
Jones 
2 
1.3 
1,930 
2,509 
0 
Kingsbury 
2 
.7 
X 
10,831 
6 
Lake 
6 
6.0 
2,069 
12,412 
3 
Lawrence 
12 
10.0 
1,909 
19,093 
3 
Lincoln 
4 
3.3 
3,991 
13,171 
5 
Lyman 
1 
.3 
X 
5,045 
3 
McCormick 
4 
2.7 
3,627 
9,793 
4 
McPherson 
1 
1.0 
8,353 
8,353 
4 
Marshall 
3 
3.0 
2,960 
8,880 
3 
Meade 
2 
1.3 
7,488 
9,735 
4 
Mellette 
0 
0. 
X 
4,107 
2 
Miner 
4 
2.7 
2,532 
6,836 
3 
Minnehaha 
49 
41.0 
1,407 
57,697 
0 
Moody 
3 
2.3 
4,061 
9,341 
4 
Pennington 
21 
18.3 
1,300 
23,799 
0 
Perkins 
3 
2.3 
2,863 
6,585 
2 
Potter 
2 
2.0 
2,307 
4,614 
1 
Roberts 
6 
4.0 
4,965 
15,887 
6 
Sanborn 
0 
0. 
X 
5,754 
4 
Shannon 
3 
3.0 
X 
5,366 
0 
Spink 
10 
6.7 
1,870 
12,527 
2 
Stanley 
0 
0. 
X 
2,001 
1 
Sluly 
1 
1.0 
2,668 
2,668 
1 
Todd 
1 
1.0 
5,714 
5,714 
3 
Tripp 
4 
3.3 
3,011 
9,937 
3 
Turner 
6 
4.0 
3,317 
13,270 
4 
Union 
3 
2.3 
5,076 
11,675 
5 
Walworth 
4 
3.3 
2,204 
7,274 
1 
Washabaugh .... 
0 
0. 
X 
1,980 
1 
Washington 
0 
0. 
X 
1,789 
1 
Yankton 
10 
8.7 
1.922 
16,725 
2 
Ziebach 
1 
1.0 
2,875 
2,875 
1 
1 Physicians in veterans hospitals, teaching-, administration, or public health ser- 
vice and those who are retired are not included. 
2 Physicians in active practice and under 65 years of age are counted as “effec- 
tive” even though not practicing full time. 
3 U. S. Bureau of the Census, 16th Census of the United States, 1946. 
4 Number of additional physicians needed to provide a ratio of approximately one 
physician to each 1,500 persons in each county. 
5 The actual total of numbers listed for counties is 169. In some counties, the 
number of physicians exceeds the minimum standard. 
e Counties in which the number of effective physicians is less than one. MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
TABLE VII—AVERAGE: NUMBER OF SQUARE MILES PER PHYSICIAN, BY 
COUNTIES, SOUTH DAKOTA—APRIL, 1946 
County 
Number of 
Physicians 
Square Miles 
Average No. of 
Square Miles 
Per Physician 
Total 
331 
76,536 
711 
131 
3 
237 
12 
1,261 
1,187 
580 
105 
1 
1,187 
96 
6 
7 
801 
114 
28 
1,667 
829 
59 
3 
276 
1 
494 
494 
5 
2,251 
763 
450 
1 
763 
6 
\ 1,131 
976 
188 
3 
325 
5 
403 
81 
16 
691 
43 
0 
2,525 
3 
1,552 
517 
12 
432 
36 
6 
1,060 
177 
2 
636 
318 
3 
1,893 
435 
631 
0 
2 
1,153 
1,748 
576 
5 
349 
1 
997 
997 
6 
684 
114 
3 
1,023 
1,815 
520 
341 
0 
4 
130 
2 
1,436 
431 
718 
i 
431 
0 
2,683 
762 
6 
127 
5 
814 
163 
1 
869 
869 
1 
809 
809 
3 
528 
176 
2 
973 
486 
2 
819 
409 
6 
571 
95 
12 
800 
67 
4 
576 
144 
1 
1,685 
577 
1,685 
4 
144 
1 
1,151 
875 
1,151 
292 
3 
2 
3,466 
1,306 
571 
1,733 
0 
4 
i 4 3 
49 
815 
16 
3 
523 
174 
21 
2,776 
2,866 
887 
127 
3 
955 
2 
444 
6 
1,111 
571 
185 
0 
3 
960 
320 
10 
1,506 
1,495 
1,061 
1,388 
1,620 
611 
151 
0 
Sully ' 
1 
i.oei 
1,388 
405 
Todd 
1 
4 
6 
102 
3 
454 
151 
4 
737 
184 
0 
1,061 
1,140 
Washington 
0 MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
TABLE VII—AVERAGE NUMBER OF SQUARE MILES PER PHYSICIAN, BY 
COUNTIES, SOUTH DAKOTA—APRIL, 1946—Continued 
County 
Number of 
Physicians 
Square Miles 
Average No. of 
Square Miles 
Per Physician 
Yankton 
10 
524 
52 
Ziebach 
1 
1,982 
1,982 
TABLE VIH—NUMBER OP OSTEOPATHS , BY COUNTIES, SOUTH DAKOTA 
APRIL, 1946 
County 
Number of 
Osteopaths 
County 
Number of 
Osteopaths 
Total 
62 
Aurora 
0 
0 
Beadle 
4 
o 
Bennett 
0 
o 
Bon Homme 
2 
2 
Brookings 
2 
i 
Brown 
/ 3 
2 
Brule 
1 
Buffalo 
0 
o 
Butte 
1 
o 
Campbell 
0 
0 
Charles Mix 
1 
o 
Clark 
0 
2 
Clay 
1 
o 
Codington 
2 
o 
Corson 
0 
9 
Custer 
0 
1 
Davison 
3 
3 
Day 
1 
1 
Deuel 
0 
1 
Dewey 
1 
2 
Douglas 
0 
1 
Edmunds 
1 
0 
Fall River 
0 
0 
Faulk 
1 
0 
Grant 
1 
Sully 
1 
Gregory 
0 
Todd . 
o 
Haakon 
1 
o 
Hamlin 
0 
1 
Hand 
1 
2 
Hanson 
0 
0 
Harding 
0 
o 
Hughes 
0 
o 
Hutchinson 
1 
o 
Hyde 
0 
0 
1 South Dakota State Health Committee, County Health Surveys, January, 1946. 
State Board of Health 
2 Osteopaths located in Beresford are included in count for Union county. MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
TABLE IX—NUMBER OP CHIROPRACTORS , B YCOUNTIES, SOUTH DAKOTA, 
APRIL, 1946 
County 
Number of 
Chiropractors 
County 
Number of 
Chiropractors 
Total 
86 
0 
0 
4 
1 
0 
0 
1 
0 
Brookings 
1 
1 
Brown 
6 
1 
Brule 
2 
12 
Buffalo 
0 
o 
Butte 
2 
3 
Campbell 
0 
1 
Charles Mix 
1 
1 
Clark 
1 
0 
Clay 
2 
Mellette 
0 
Codington 
3 
1 
Corson 
1 
8 
Custer 
1 
1 
Davison 
3 
5 
Day 
3 
1 
Deuel 
0 
0 
Dewey 
0 
1 
Douglas 
0 
0 
Edmunds 
1 
0 
Fall River 
2 
0 
0 
0 
Grant 
1 
Sully 
o 
Gregory 
2 
Todd 
0 
Haakon 
2 
2 
Hamlin 
0 
7 
Hand 
1 
3 
Hanson 
0 
1 
Harding 
0 
0 
Hughes 
1 
0 
Hutchinson 
4 
2 
Hyde 
0 
0 
1 South Dakota State Health Committee, County Health Surveys, January, 1946. 
State Board of Health 
2 Chiropractors located in Beresford are included in the count for Union county.  MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
TABLE X—NUMBER OP DENTISTSi AND ADDITIONAL DENTISTS NEEDED, 
BY COUNTIES, SOUTH DAKOTA—APRIL, 1946 
County 
Number2 
of 
Dentists 
Populations 
No. Persons 
to Each 
Dentist 
Additional 
Dentists 
Needed* 
Total 
266 
642,961 
2,417 
(55)5 
Aurora 
1 
5,387 
5,387 
2 
Beadle 
9 
19,648 
2,183 
1 
Bennett 
1 
3,983 
3,983 
1 
Bon Homme 
4 
10,241 
2,560 
1 
Brookings 
9 
16,560 
1,840 
0 
Brown 
14 
29,676 
2,119 
1 
Brule 
3 
6,195 
2,065 
0 
Buffalo 
0 
1,853 
1 
Butte 
2 
8,004 
4,002 
2 
Campbell 
0 
5,033 
3 
Charles Mix 
4 
13,449 
3,362 
3 
Clark 
1 
8,955 
8,955 
3 
Clay 
4 
9,592 
2,398 
1 
Codington 
11 
17,014 
1,547 
0 
Corson 
1 
6,755 
6,755 
2 
Custer 
2 
6,023 
3,012 
1 
Davison 
9 
15,336 
1,704 
0 
Day 
5 
13,565 
2,713 
2 
Deuel 
2 
8,450 
4,225 
2 
Dewey 
1 
5,709 
5,709 
2 
Douglas 
2 
6,348 
3,174 
1 
Edmunds 
2 
7,814 
3,907 
2 
Fall River 
5 
8,089 
1,618 
0 
Paulk 
2 
5,168 
2,584 
1 
Grant 
4 
10,552 
2,638 
1 
Gregory 
2 
9,554 
4,777 
3 
Haakon 
1 
3,515 
3,515 
1 
Hamlin 
4 
7,562 
1,890 
0 
Hand 
2 
7,166 
3,583 
2 
Hanson 
1 
5,400 
5,400 
2 
Harding 
0 
3,010 
1 
Hughes 
4 
6,624 
1,506 
0 
Hutchinson 
8 
12,668 
1,583 
0 
Hyde 
2 
3,113 
1,557 
0 
Jackson 
0 
1,955 
1 
Jerauld 
2 
4,752 
2,376 
0 
Jones 
0 
2,509 
1 
Kingsbury 
4 
10,831 
2,708 
1 
Lake 
7 
12,412 
1,773 
0 
Lawrence 
11 
19,093 
1,736 
0 
Lincoln 
6 
13,171 
2,195 
1 
Lyman 
0 
5,045 
2 
McCook 
3 
9,793 
3,267 
2 
McPherson 
1 
8,353 
8,353 
3 
Marshall 
3 
8,880 
2,960 
1 
Meadoe 
2 
9,735 
4,867 
3 
Mellette 
1 
4,107 
4,107 
1 
Miner 
2 
6,836 
3,418 
1 
Minnehaha 
45 
57,697 
1,282 
0 
Moody 
4 
9,341 
2,335 
1 
Pennington 
15 
23,799 
1,587 
0 
Perkins 
2 
6,585 
3,292 
1 
Potter 
2 
4,614 
2,307 
0 
Roberts 
3 
15,887 
5,296 
5 
Sanborn 
1 
5,754 
5,754 
2 
Shannon 
0 
5,366 
3 
Spink 
4 
12,5276 
3, i 3 2 
2 
Stanley 
0 
2,001 
1 
Sully 
0 
2,668 
1 
Todd 
0 
5,714 
3 
Tripp 
3 
9,937 
3,312 
2 
Turner 
6 
13,270 
2,212 
1 
Union 
4 
11,675 
2,919 
2 
Walworth 
4 
7,274 
1,455 
0 
Washabaugh 
0 
1,980 
1 
Washington 
0 
1,789 
— 
1 MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
51 
TABLE X—NUMBER OP DENTISTSi AND ADDITIONAL DENTISTS NEEDED, 
BY COUNTIES, SOUTH DAKOTA—APRIL, 1946—Continued 
Number2 
No. Persons 
Additional 
County 
of 
Populations 
to Each 
Dentists 
Dentists 
Dentist 
Needed* 
Yankton 
9 
16,725 
1,858 
0 
Ziebach 
0 
2,875 
1 
1 South Dakota State Health Committee, County Health Surveys, January, 1946. 
State Board of Health 
2 Dentists who are retired are excluded in the count. 
3 U. S. Bureau of the Census, 16th Census of the United Ctates, 1940. 
4 Number of additional dentists needed to provide a ratio of approximately one 
dentist to each 2,000 persons in each county. 
5 The actual total of numbers listed for counties is 86. The number of dentists 
in some counties exceeds the minimum standards. 
e Includes 42 persons residing in Armstrong county, an unorganized county. 
TABLE XI—CLASSIFICATION OP COUNTIES AS TO NUMBER OP PERSONS 
PER DENTIST, SOUTH DAKOTA—APRIL, 1946 
NTiST, 5UUTH 13 A 
ituia—iy 
Classification: 
Persons Per 
Number of 
Counties in Each 
Total Persons in 
Counties in Bach 
Per Cent of 
Total State 
Total 
69 
642,961 
100% 
Less 
than 2,000 
14 
223,966 
34.9 
2,000 
to 2,999 
16 
181,171 
28.2 
3,000 
to 3,999 
12 
93,976 
14.9 
4,000 
to 4,999 
5 
39,850 
6.2 
5,000 
to 5,999 
5 
38,137 
5.9 
6,000 
and over 
3 
24,063 
3.7 
Counties having no dentist 
14 
41,796 
6.5 52 
MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
TABLE XII—GENERAL-CARE HOSPITALS APPROVED BY THE AMERICAN 
COLLEGE OP SURGEONS BY COUNTIES, SOUTH DAKOTA—APRIL, 1946 
No. of Hospitals 
City or 
Approved By 
County 
Village 
American College 
Number of B 
of Surgeons 
15 
1,432 
Huron 
1 
51 
Aberdeen 
1 
135 
2 
145 
Mitchell 
2 
218 
1 
42 
1 
137 
1 
50 
1 
25 
2 
308 
2 
151 
Yankton 
Yankton 
1 
170 
i Journal of American Medical Association, April 20, 1946. Other hospitals ap- 
proved by the American College of Surgeons are the Veterans’ Hospitals at 
Fort Meade and Hot Springs, the Sioux Sanatorium (Indian), Rapid City, and 
the State Sanatorium for Tuberculosis, 
Sanator. 
TABLE XIII—GENERAL-CARE HOSPITAESi REGISTERED BY AMERICAN 
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AND RATIO OP BEDS TO POPULATION, 
BY COUNTIES, SOUTH DAKOTA—APRIL, 1946 
Counties 
Population 
General-Care Hospitals 
No. Hospitals 
Registered By 
[ American Med- 
ical Assn. 
Total 
Number 
of Beds 
Number Beds 
Per 1,000 
Population 
Total 
642,961 
43 
2,243 
3.5 
5,387 
0. 
Beadle 
19,648 
1 
58 
2.9 
Bennett 
3,983 
0. 
Bon Homme 
10,241 
0. 
Brookings 
16,560 
2 
55 
3.5 
Brown 
16,676 
1 
135 
4.6 
Brule 
6,195 
0. 
Buffalo 
1,853 
13 
20 
10.5 
Butte 
8,004 
1 
26 
3.2 
Campbell 
5,033 
0. 
Charles Mix 
13,449 
24 
37 
2.8 
Clark 
8,955 
0. 
Codington 
17,014 
O 
i 4 5 
8.5 
Corson 
6,775 
0. 
Custer 
6,023 
0. 
Davison 
15,336 
2 
2is 
14.5 
Day 
13,565 
1 
42 
3.1 MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
TABLE XIII—GENERAL-CARE HOSPITALS! REGISTERED BY AMERICAN 
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AND RATIO OP BEDS TO POPULATION, 
BY COUNTIES, SOUTH DAKOTA—APRIL, 1946—Continued 
Counties 
Population 
General-Care Hospitals 
No. Hospitals 
Registered By 
American Med- 
ical Assn. 
Total 
Number 
of Beds 
Number Beds 
Per 1,000 
Population 
Deuel 
8,450 
0. 
Dewey 
5,709 
13 
4i 
7.2 
Douglas 
6,348 
0. 
Edmunds 
7,814 
0. 
Fall River 
8,089 
2 
95 
11.7 
Faulk 
5,168 
0. 
Grant 
10,552 
i 
3i 
2.9 
Gregory 
9,554 
2 
33 
3.4 
Haakon 
3,515 
0. 
Hamlin 
7,562 
0. 
Hand 
7,166 
i 
is 
2.5 
Hanson 
5,400 
0. 
Harding 
3,010 
0. 
Hughes 
6,624 
i 
isi 
20.7 
Hutchinson 
12,668 
1 
15 
1.2 
Hyde 
3,113 
0. 
Jackson 
1,955 
0. 
Jerauld 
4,752 
0. 
Jones 
2,509 
0. 
Kingsbury 
10,831 
0. 
Lake 
12,412 
i 
50 
4.0 
Lawrence 
19,093 
25 
81 
4.2 
Lincoln 
13,171 
0. 
Lyman 
5,045 
0. 
McCook 
9,793 
0. 
McPherson 
8,353 
i 
. 25 
3.0 
Marshall 
8,880 
4.0 
Meade 
9,735 
. . 
0. 
Mellette 
4,107 
0. 
Miner 
6,836 
0. 
Minnehaha 
57,697 
4 
38 
5.9 
Moody 
9.341 
26 
44 
4.7 
Pennington 
23,799 
2 
151 
6.9 
Perkins 
6,585 
18. 
Potter 
4,614 
i 
18 
3.9 
Roberts 
15,887 
27 
72 
4.5 
Sanborn 
5,754 
0. 
Shannon 
5,366 
13 
41 
7.6 
Spink 
12,527 
1 
15 
12.0 
Stanley 
2,0016 
0. 
Sully 
2,668 
0. 
Todd 
5,714 
13 
40 
7.0 
Tripp 
9,937 
1 
17 
1.7 
Turner 
13,270 
0. 
Union 
11,675 
0. 
Walworth 
7,274 
2 
55 
7.5 
Washabaugh 
1,980 
0. 
Washington 
1,789 
0. 
Yankton 
16,725 
i 
i?6 
10.2 
Ziebach 
2.875 
0. 
1 Veterans’ hospitals are not included. 
2 Journal of American Medical Association, April 20, 1946. 
3 Serves Indian population only. 
4 One hospital of 25 beds serves Indian population only. 
s One hospital of 25 beds serves employees of Homestake Mining Company only. 
6 One hospital of 26 beds serves Indian population only. 
7 One hospital of 32 beds serves Indian population only, 
s Includes 42 persons residing in Armstrong county. 54 
MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
County 
City or Village 
Name of Hospital 
No. 
of 
Beds 
Approved2 
By American 
College of 
Surgeons 
Registered2 
By American 
Medical 
Association 
OC 
IS 
2470 
(15) 
(44) 
51 
51 
X 
X 
12 
37 
X 
18 
X 
135 
X 
X 
Brule 
29 
20 
X 
26 
X 
Charles Mix 
25 
X 
Charles Mix 
12 
X 
Clay 
35 
Codington 
75 
X 
X 
Codington 
70 
X 
X 
Davison 
100 
X 
X 
Davison 
Mitchell 
118 
X 
X 
Day 
42 
X 
X 
Dewey 
41 
X 
Fall River 
40 
X 
Pall River 
55 
X 
Faulk 
19 
X 
Grant 
31 
X 
Gregory 
16 
X 
Gregory 
17 
X 
Haakon 
7 
Hamlin 
14 
Hand 
18 
X 
Hughes 
137 
X 
X 
Hutchinson 
15 
X 
Jackson 
3 
— 
Lake 
50 
X 
X 
Lawrence 
25 
X 
X 
Lawrence 
56 
X 
Lincoln 
8 
McPherson 
25 
X 
Marshall 
24 
Marshall 
12 
Minnehaha 
20 
X 
Minnehaha 
10 
X 
Minnehaha 
138 
X 
X 
Minnehaha 
Sioux Falls 
Sioux Valley 
170 
X 
X 
TABLE XIV—GENERAL-CARE HOSPITALS BY COUNTIES, SOUTH DAKOTA—APRIL, 1946 MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
Approveda 
Reglstereda 
No. 
By American 
By American 
County 
City or Village 
Name of Hospital 
of 
College of 
Medical 
Beds 
Surgeons 
Association 
18 
X 
Moody 
26 
X 
Pennington 
51 
X 
X 
Pennington 
100 
X 
X 
Pennington 
Wall ....' 
13 
Perkins 
12 
X 
Potter 
18 
X 
Roberts 
32 
X 
Roberts 
40 
X 
41 
X 
15 
X 
Todd 
40 
X 
17 
X 
10 
20 
X 
35 
X 
Yankton 
Yankton 
Sacred “Heart 
170 
X 
X 
i Veterans’ hospitals 
are excluded. 
2 Journal of American Medical Association, April 20, 1946. State institutions and veterans’ hospitals are not included. 
TABLE XIV—GENERAL-CARE HOSPITALS, BY COUNTIES, SOUTH DAKOTA—APRIL, 1946—Continued TABLE XV—GENERAL-CARE HOSPITALS AND RATIO OP BEDS TO 
POPULATION, BY COUNTIES, SOUTH DAKOTA—APRIL, 1946 
General-Care Hospitals , 
Total 
Number Beds 
County 
Population 
Number 
Number 
Per 1,000 
Hospitalsz 
of Beds 
Population 
Total 
642,961 
58 
2,470 
3.8 
Aurora 
5,387 
. . . 
• . . 
0. 
Aurora 
5,387 
0. 
Beadle 
19,648 
2 
i02 
5.2 
Bennette 
3,983 
0. 
Bon Homme 
10,241 
i 
12 
1.2 
Brookings 
16,560 
2 
55 
3.5 
Brown 
29,676 
1 
135 
4.6 
Brule 
6,195 
1 
29 
4.7 
Buffalo 
1,853 
13 
20 
10.5 
Butte 
8,004 
1 
26 
3.2 
Campbell 
5,033 
0. 
Charles Mix 
13,339 
24 
37 
2.8 
Clark 
8,955 
0. 
Clay 
9,592 
i 
35 
3.6 
Codington 
17,014 
2 
145 
8.5 
Corson 
6,755 
0. 
Custer 
6,023 
0. 
Davison 
15,336 
2 
2is 
14.5 
Day 
13,565 
1 
42 
3.1 
Deuel 
8,450 
0. 
Dewey 
5*709 
is 
4i 
7.2 
Douglas 
6,348 
0. 
Edmunds 
7,814 
0. 
Fall River 
8,089 
2 
95 
11.7 
Faulk 
5,168 
1 
19 
3.6 
Grant 
10,552 
1 
31 
2.9 
Gregory 
9,554 
2 
33 
3.4 
Haakon 
3,515 
1 
7 
2.0 
Hamlin 
7,562 
1 
14 
1.9 
Hand 
7,166 
1 
18 
2.5 
Hanson 
5,400 
0. 
Harding 
3,010 
0. 
Hughes 
6,624 
i 
is? 
20.7 
Hutchinson 
12,668 
i 
15 
1.2 
Hyde 
3,113 
0. 
Jackson 
1,955 
i 
8 
2.4 
Jerauld 
4,752 
0. 
Jones 
2,509 
0. 
Kingsbury 
10,831 
. . . 
0. 
Lake 
12,412 
i 
50 
4.0 
Lawrence 
19,093 
25 
81 
4.0 
Lincoln 
13,171 
i 
8 
.6 
Lyman 
5,045 
. • • 
0. 
McCook 
9,793 
0. 
McPherson 
8,353 
i 
25 
3.0 
Marshall 
8,880 
2 
36 
4.0 
Meade 
9,735 
0. 
Mellette 
4,107 
0. 
Miner 
6,836 
0. 
Minnehaha 
57,697 
4 
338 
5.9 
Moody 
9,341 
26 
44 
4.7 
Pennington 
23,799 
3 
164 
6.9 
Perkins 
6,575 
1 
12 
1.8 
Potter 
4,614 
1 
18 
3.9 
Roberts 
15,887 
27 
72 
4.5 
Sanborn 
5,754 
0. 
Shannon 
5,366 
13 
4i 
7.6 
Spink 
12,527 
1 
15 
12.0 
Stanley 
2,0018 
. . . 
0. 
Sullyq 
2,668 
. . . 
0. 
Todd 
5,714 
13 
40 
7.0 
Tripp 
9,937 
1 
17 
1.7 
Turner 
13,270 
1 
10 
.7 
Union 
11,675 
... 
0. 
MEDICAL, CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
TABLE XV—GENERAL-CARE HOSPITALS AND RATIO OP BEDS TO 
POPULATION, BY COUNTIES, SOUTH DAKOTA—APRIL, 1946—Continued 
General-Care Hospitals 
Total 
Number Beds 
County 
Population 
Number 
Number 
Per 1,000 
Hospitals2 
of Beds 
Population 
Walworth 
7,274 
2 
55 
7.5 
Washabaugh 
1,980 
0. 
Washington 
1,789 
0. 
Yankton 
16,725 
i 
iio 
10.2 
Ziebach 
2,875 
0. 
1 Veterans’ hospitals are not included. 
2 Journal of American Medical Association, April 20, 1946, and State Board of 
Health. 
3 Serves Indian population only. 
4 One hospital with 25 beds serves Indian population only. 
5 One hospital of 25 beds serves employees of Homestake Mining Company only. 
6 One hospital with 32 beds serves Indian population only. 
7 One hospital with 26 beds serves Indian population only. 
8 Includes 42 persons residing in Armstrong county. MEDICAL. CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
TABLE XVT—MATERNITY HOMES APPROVED BY STATE BOARD OP 
HEALTH, NUMBER OP BEDS, SOUTH DAKOTA—JANUARY, 1946 
City or 
Number of 
Total 
County 
Village 
Maternity 
Number 
Homes 
of Beds 
Total 
45 
122 
12 
' 4 
1 
2 
2 
6 
Vale 
1 
4 
1 
1 
12 
2 
3 
7 
1 
3 
1 
2 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
2 
2 
4 
Jerauld 
Wessington Springs. 
1 
3 
1 
2 
2 
8 
Lake 
12 
2 
1 
1 
22 
6 
12 
6 
12 
4 
3 
7 
Miner 
1 
2 
1 
83 
1 
4 
Potter 
22 
5 
Roberts 
Wilmot 
1 
3 
Sully 
1 
2 
Turner 
1 
1 
Turner 
HSurley 
1 
4 
32 
5 
Ziebach 
Dupree 
1 
5 
1 State Board of Health. 
2 Institutions maintained primarily for maternity care but which occasionally 
provide emergency medical or surgical care. 
s Lutheran House of Mercy. MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
County 
City or 
Village 
Populations 
of City or 
Village Only 
Number 
Physicians 
in City or 
Village 
Age Classification 
No. of Miles to 
Nearest General- 
Care Hospital 
of Any Size 
No. of Miles to 
Nearest General- 
Care Hospital of 
25 Beds or More 
Under 
45 
Years 
45 to 
64 Years 
of Age 
65 Years 
and 
Over 
Total 
(56) 
69 
10 
19 
40 
Aurora 
Plankinton ... 
694 
2 
1 
1 
30 
30 
Stickney 
361 
1 
1 
33 
33 
Wolsey 
416 
1 
i 
16 
16 
1,013 
1 
i 
i 
52 
160 
Hon Homme.. 
Tabor 
391 
% 1 
i 
18 
18 
Hon Homme. . 
Tyndall 
1,289 
1 
i 
30 
30 
Groton 
946 
1 
i 
19 
19 
Hecla 
555 
1 
i 
23 
43 
Charles Mix... 
Geddes 
581 
1 
i 
25 
84 
Charles Mix... 
Platte 
1,017 
1 
i 
43 
67 
1,281 
2 
i 
i 
32 
32 
Clark 
Willow Lake.. 
427 
1 
i 
45 
45 
Wakonda 
451 
1 
i 
20 
20 
Codington .... 
Henry 
322 
1 
i 
18 
18 
Custer 
1,845 
1 
i 
33 
33 
Waubay 
882 
2 
2 
11 
11 
Deuel 
Clear Lake.... 
997 
1 
i 
32 
32 
Gary 
566 
1 
i 
12 
12 
Edmunds .... 
Ipswich 
1,002 
2 
2 
28 
28 
Fall River.... 
Edgemont .... 
1,002 
1 
1 
30 
30 
Fairfax 
338 
1 
i 
43 
80 
658 
1 
i 
40 
40 
Hamlin 
Castlewood . .. 
493 
1 
i 
15 
15 
Hamlin 
Lake Norden.. 
463 
1 
i 
17 
25 
Emery 
482 
1 
i 
25 
25 
229 
1 
i 
35 
35 
Hutchinson .. 
Freeman 
976 
2 
i 
i 
35 
35 
Hutchinson .. 
Menno 
966 
1 
i 
36 
36 
Hyde 
Highmore .... 
1,136 
1 
i 
22 
50 
440 
2 
2 
26 
26 
Jerauld 
Wessington 
Springs 
1,352 
1 
1 
42 
42 
680 
2 
i 
1 
58 
58 
Kingsbury . . . 
Lake Preston. 
886 
1 
1 
25 
34 
Kingsbury ... 
Arlington .... 
1,517 
1 
1 
20 
20 
Lawrence .... 
Spearfish .... 
2,139 
3 
i 
i 
1 
13 
15 
1,164 
1 
i 
23 
23 
568 
1 
i 
50 
50 
McCook 
Bridgewater .. 
790 
1 
i 
38 
38 
McCook 
Salem 
1,185 
2 
2 
35 
35 
59 
TABLE XVII—CITIES AND VILLAGES HAVING ONE OR MORE PHYSICIANS BUT NO GENERAL-CARE HOSFITALi; 
NUMBER OP MILES TO NEAREST GENERAL-CARE HOSPITAL, SOUTH DAKOTA—JANUARY, 1946 MEDICAL. CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
TABLE XVII—CITIES AND VILLAGES HAVING ONE OP MORE PHYSICIANS BTTT NO GENEBAL-CABE HOSPITAL!; 
NUMBEB OF MILES TO NEABEST GENEBAL-CABE HOSPITAL, SOtTTH DAKOTA—JANUAEY, 1946—Continued 
Number 
Age Classification 
No. of Miles to 
No. of Miles to 
City or 
Population 
Physicians 
Under 
45 to 
65 Tears 
N earest General- 
Nearest General- 
County 
Village 
of City or 
in City or 
45 
64 Tears 
and 
Care Hospital 
Care Hospital of 
Village Only 
Village 
Years 
of Age 
Over 
of Any Size 
25 Beds or More 
617 
1 
1 
24 
24 
2 002 
1 
i 
13 
13 
r>1 2 
2 
’ i 
i 
40 
40 
1102 
2 
’ i 
i 
22 
22 
Minnehaha ... 
Hartford 
'647 
i 
i 
13 
13 
Pennington ... 
Wasta 
153 
i 
i 
15 
46 
Potter 
Gettysburg . . 
1,324 
i 
i 
22 
22 
Roberts 
New Bffington 
344 
i 
i 
19 
19 
Roberts 
(528 
i 
i 
25 
25 
Spink 
542 
i 
i 
22 
51 
Trip 
42 
i 
i 
18 
86 
Turner 
Chancellor ... 
232 
i 
i 
20 
20 
586 
i 
i 
32 
32 
Union 
Beresford .... 
1,642 
2 
i 
i 
31 
31 
Union 
Elk Point .... 
1,483 
1 
i 
20 
20 
Walworth .... 
Selby 
599 
1 
i 
22 
22 
Ziebach 
Dupree 
460 
1 
i 
90 
90 
i Facilities classified as “maternity homes” 
are excluded. 
2 U. S. Bureau 
of Census—16th Census of the 
United States 
7940. This figure does not represent the 
total number of 
persons served by the physicians in the area. 
' MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
TABLE XVIIl—INCORPORATED CITIES AND VILLAGES OP 500 OR MORE POPULATION IN WHICH NO PHYSI- 
CIAN IS LOCATED AND WHICH ARE 20 MILES OR MORE TO THE NEAREST PHYSICIAN; NUMBER OF 
MILES TO THE NEAREST PHYSICIAN AND TO THE NEAREST GENERAL-CARE HOSPITAL, SOUTH 
DAKOTA—JANUARY, 1946 
County 
City or Village 
Population! of City 
or Village Only 
No. of Miles to 
Nearest Physician 
No. of Miles 
to General-Care 
Hospital of 
Any Slze2 
No. of Miles 
to General Care 
Hospital of 
25 Beds or Mqre 
779 
21 
21 
21 
591 
27 
27 
27 
527 
40 
40 
50 
McIntosh 
626 
43 
69 
69 
660 
38 
38 
38 
Timber Lake 
512 
36 
36 
36 
757 
25 
45 
45 
579 
20 
20 
55 
833 
27 
90 
90 
795 
25 
25 
41 
522 
25 
75 
112 
Mellette 
White River 
562 
24 
56 
82 
Sanborn 
Artesian 
502 
25 
26 
25 
1 U. S. Bureau of the Census, 16th Census of the United States, 1940. This figure does not represent the total number 
of persons a physician in the location would serve. 
2 Facilities classified as “maternity homes” are excluded. MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILIT 
County 
City or Village 
Population of City 
or Village Only 
No. of Miles to 
Nearest Physician 
No. of Miles 
to General-Care 
Hospital of 
Any Size 
No. of Miles 
to General Care 
Hospital of 
25 Beds or More 
1,013 
18 
18 
54 
1,016 
8 
33 
33 
Turner 
Parker 
1,244 
10 
16 
29 
i South Dakota State Health Committee, County Health Surveys. 
TABLE XIX—INCORPORATED CITIES AND VILLAGES OF 1,000 OR MORE POPULATION IN WHICH NO PHYSI- 
CIAN IS LOCATED AND WHICH ARE LESS THAN 20 MILES TO THE NEAREST PHYSICIANl, SOUTH 
DAKOTA—JANUARY, 1946 MEDICAL. CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
TABLE XX—HOSPITALS WHICH HAVE BEEN CLOSES IN RECENT YEARS ANS REASON FOR CLOSINO!, IN 
SOUTH DAKOTA —JANUARY, 1946 
County 
City or Village 
Year 
Reason For Closing 
Charles Mix 
Lake Andes .... 
1936 
‘‘Physician moved away.” 
Charles Mix 
Platte 
1941 
“Physician went in service and doctor who replaced him remained 
only a short time.” 
Clark 
Bradley 
1944 
“Poor health of physician and difficulty in obtaining help.” 
Day 
Bristol 
1945 
“Doctor moved away and has retired.” 
Dewey 
Timber Lake .. 
Not stated 
“Lack of funds." 
Edmunds 
1944 
“No physician.” 
“Closed because of financial difficulties.” 
Fall River 
Edgemont 
1945 
Haakon 
Philip 
1945 
“Physician leaving to go to medical school.” 
Harding 
Buffalo 
1943 
“Closed because of inability to get help.” 
Harding 
Camp Crook .... 
1936 
“Physician left.” 
1936 
“Reason not stated.” 
1943 
1944 
“Only physician died. Have been unable to replace him. 
“Reason not stated.” 
Walworth 
Selby 
1936 
i State Health Committee, County Health Surveys, 
January, 1946. MEDICAL, CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
TABLE XXI—CITIES AND VILLAGES IN WHICH NEW HOSPITALS, REPLACEMENT OP EXISTING HOSPITAL 
BUILDINGS, OR ADDITIONS TO HOSPITALS ARE BEING DISCUSSED, SOUTH DAKOTA—APRIL, 1946 
County 
City or Village 
Plans Under Discussion 
(43) 
“One new hospital under construction. Discussion regard- 
ing a second new hospital.” 
“New hospital being considered.” 
“Consider a 12 bed hospital is needed.” 
“New hospital being discussed.” 
“Enlargement of present hospital.” 
“Planning new hospital.” 
“Planning new hospital.” ■ 
“New hospital being promoted.” 
“Funds being raised for new hospital.” 
“Some discussion regarding need of a hospital.” 
“Definite plans for new hospital.” 
“Plans for new hospital being discussed.” 
“Establishment of community hospital being seriously con- 
sidered.’ 
“Funds being raised for hospital.” 
“Present hospital building to be replaced.” 
“New hospital being planned.” 
“Addition to present closed hospital.” 
“Some discussion of new hospital.” 
“Addition to present hospital being planned.” 
Martin 
Chamberlain 
Belle Fourche 
T-v 1 „ 
Eslelline 
“$80,000 bond issue voted for new county hospital.” 
“Funds raised several years ago for ne whospital but no 
further action taken.” 
“Enlargement of present hospital being planned.” 
“Funds being collected for a new hospital.” 
“Present hospital to be enlarged.” 
“Plans are being talked about for a hospital.” 
“A new hospital is being planned.” 
“Plans being made for a new hospital.” 
“Plans for a hospital being discussed.” 
“Plans for a hospital being discussed.” 
“Hospital to be enlarged.” 
“New hospital being discussed.” 
“New hospital being discussed.” 
“Plans to enlarge community hospital.” 
“Plans for a hospital being discussed.” 
“Plans being made for new hospital.” 
“Addition to present hospital being planned.” 
“Municipal hospital being discussed.” 
“Some discussion of a hospital.” 
“Plans are under way to erect a new hospital. 
“Have been investigating the proposal for a county hos- 
pital.” 
Parkston 
Wessington Springs 
Arlington 
De Smet 
Lake Preston 
Lake 
Madison 
Deadwood 
Spearfish 
Canton 
Leola 
Lemmon 
Hoven 
Gettysburg 
THpp MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
TABLE XXI—CITIES AND VILLAGES IN WHICH NEW HOSPITALS, REPLACEMENT OF EXISTING HOSPITAL 
BUILDINGS, OR ADDITIONS TO HOSPITALS ARE BEING DISCUSSED, SOUTH DAKOTA—APRIL, 1946—Continued 
County 
City or Village 
Plans Under Discussion 
“Funds being raised for new hospital.” 
“Are considering a new hospital.” 
“Plans to enlarge present hospital.” 
Selby 
Yankton 
Yankton 
i State Health Committee, County Health Surveys, January, 1946, State Board of Health. MEDICAL. CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
County 
Number 
Approximate Charge as Reported in Survey 
City 
Rural 
3 
$3.00 a trip 
3 
iOc a mile 
Minimum $200. No charge to hospitals. 
Bennett 
0 
4 
10c a mile 
Brookings 
3 
$3.00 to $3.50 
One not stated; one $3.50 minimum plus 12%c a mile; 
one $3.00 minimum plus 10c a mile. 
$6.00 
15c per mile. 
1 
Not stated 
Buffalo 
0 
1 
$3.50 
1 
Not stated 
3 
Not stated 
4 
Not stated 
2 
$1.00 
20c per mile. 
Codington 
2 
Not stated 
Corson 
0 
1 
Not stated 
25c per mile. 
3 
$3.00 to $4.50 
Day 
3 
$2.50 minimum: 25c a mile. 
Same. 
1 
Not stated 
Dewey 
0 
3 
Not stated 
Edmunds 
1 
3 
$5.00 
Not stated 
20c per mile plus $3.00. 
1 
Not stated 
2 
$4.00 and $2.50 
2 
Not stated 
1 
Not stated 
2 
Not stated 
10c and 12c per mile. 
1 
$5.00 
2 
20c to 25c per mile. 
Harding 
0 
Hughes 
2 
$3.00 day; $5.00 night .... 
10c per mile. 
4 
Not stated 
Hyde 
1 
$2.50 
20c per mile. 
Jackson 
0 
Jerauld 
2 
Jones 
1 
Kingsbury 
2 
$5.00 
2 
city. 
Lawrence 
4 
$5.00 
$1.00 per mile; on rates stated for two. 
TABLE XXII—AMBULANCE FACILITIESi, BY COUNTIES, SOUTH DAKOTA—JANUARY, 1946 MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
Approximate Charge as Reported in Survey 
County 
Number 
City 
Rural 
Lincoln 
6 
$5.00 for one; no rates .. 
One 20c a mile; one $5.00 a trip; one $1.00 first mile, then 
50c a mile; one $10.00 to Sioux Falls. 
Lyman 
0 
McCook 
4 
One $6.00; one no charge.. 
One 15c; one 5c a mile; two not stated. 
McPherson 
2 
3 
$2.00 
25c per mile. 
10c per mile (12.50 from Sturgis to Rapid City). 
3 
$2.00 
0 
2 
Definite day and night rates to various surrounding cities. 
15c per mile; $6.00 for 10 miles. 
10c per mile. 
One $2.00 or 20c a mile; one 25c a mile; one $10.00 both 
ways to Rapid City. 
7 
$4.00 
4 
$3.00 
3 
One $4.00; one $5.00; one 
Perkins 
1 
Not stated 
2 
4 
One $2.00; three not stated. 
Not stated. 
Not stated. 
2 
0 
2 
Not stated 
0 
Sully ’. 
0 
Todd 
0 
Tripp 
1 
$3.00 
10c per mile. 
Turner 
3 
Union 
5 
2 
25c per mile one way, plus $5.00; one not stated. 
0 
0 
4 
0 
i South Dakota State Health 
Committee, County Health Surveys, January, 1946. 
TABLE XXII—AMBULANCE FACILITIES!, BY COUNTIES, SOUTH DAKOTA—JANUARY, 1946—Continued MEDICAL, CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
TABLE XXIII—LOCAL FULL-TIME PUBLIC HEALTH PERSONNEL!, BY COUNTIES, SOUTH DAKOTA 
APRIL, 1946 
County 
Population 
Local 
Full-Time 
Health 
Officer 
Number 
Sanitary 
Engineers 
Number 
Sanitariams 
Number 
County 
Nurses 
Number 
School 
Nursess 
Number 
Indian 
Service 
Nurses 
Total 
642,961 
1 
1 
6 
17 
12 
4 
Aurora 
5,387 
Beadle 
19,648 
i 
Bennett 
3,983 
i 
Bon Homme .... 
10,241 
Brookings 
16,560 
Brown 
29,676 
2 
Brule 
6,195 
Buffalo 
1,853 
Butte 
8,004 
i 
Campbell 
5,033 
Charles Mix .... 
13,449 
Clark 
8,955 
Clay 
9,592 
- 
i 
Codington 
17,014 
i 
i 
Corson 
6,755 
Custer 
6,023 
i 
Davison 
15,336 
i 
i 
Day 
13,565 
i 
Deuel 
8,450 
Dewey 
5,709 
Douglas 
6,348 
Edmunds 
7,814 
Fall River 
8,089 
Faulk 
5,168 
Grant 
10,552 
i 
Gregory 
9,554 
Haakon 
3,515 
Hamlin 
7,562 
i 
Hand 
7,166 
... 
i 
Hanson 
5,400 
Harding 
3,010 
Hughes 
6,624 
Hutchinson 
12,668 
Hyde 
3,113 
Jackson 
1,955 
Jerauld 
4,752 
Jones 
2,509 
Kingsbury 
10,831 
Lake 
12,412 
i 
Lawrence 
19,093 
1 MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
County 
Population 
Local 
Full-Time 
Health 
Officer 
Number 
Sanitary 
Engineers 
Number 
Sanitariums 
Number 
County 
Nurses 
Number 
School 
Nursess 
Number 
Indian 
Service 
Nurses 
Lincoln 
13,171 
Lyman 
5,045 
McCook 
9,793 
McPherson 
8,353 
Marshall 
8,880 
Meade 
9,735 
Mellette 
4,107 
Miner 
6,836 
Minnehaha 
57,697 
i 
2 
3 
i 
Moody 
9,341 
Pennington 
23,799 
X4 
i 
2 
4 
i 
Perkins 
6,585 
Potter 
4,614 
Roberts 
15,887 
i 
Sanborn 
5,754 
1 
Shannon 
5,366 
2 
Spink 
12,5275 
i 
Stanley 
2,001 
Sully 
2,668 
Todd 
5,714 
2 
Tripp 
9,937 
Turner 
13,270 
Union 
11,675 
Walworth 
7,274 
i 
Washabaugh .... 
1,980 
Washington 
1,789 
Yankton 
16,725 
i 
Ziebach 
2,875 
1 
1 
1 State Board of Health. 
2 U. S. Bureau of the Census, 16th Census of the United 
3 Services provided by school authorities of largest city in 
States, 1940. 
county, available 
to school population of such cities only. 
4 Service of health officer on part-time basis. 
5 Includes population of 42 of Armstrong county which is 
unorganized. 
TABLE XXIH—LOCAL FULL-TIME PUBLIC HEALTH PERSONNEL!, BY COUNTIES, SOUTH DAKOTA 
- APRIL, 1946—Continued 70 
MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
County 
Municipality 
Bacteriological 
Examination Interval 
Approved 
Supplies 
Chlorinated 
Supplies 
Aurora 
Tes 
No 
Aurora 
No 
No 
Aurora 
No 
No 
Brown 
Tes 
Tes 
Beadle 
No 
No 
Beadle 
No 
No 
Beadle 
Tes 
Beadle 
No 
No 
Beadle 
No 
Tes 
Beadle 
No 
No 
Bennett 
Martin 
Tes 
No 
Bon Homme 
Avon 
No 
No 
Bon Homme ... 
Scotland 
No 
No 
Bon Homme .... 
Springfield 
No 
No 
Bon Homme .... 
Tabor 
No 
No 
Bon Homme 
Tyndall 
No 
No 
Brookings .... 
Tes 
Tes 
Brookings .... 
Elkton 
No 
No 
Brookings 
White 
No 
No 
Brown 
Tes 
Tes 
Brown 
No 
No 
Brown 
No 
No 
Brown 
Groton 
No 
No 
Brown 
No 
No 
Brule 
Tes 
Brule 
No 
Tes 
Brule 
No 
No 
Bute 
No 
Tes 
Bute 
No 
No 
Bute 
No 
No 
Bute 
No 
Charles Mix ... 
No 
No 
Charles Mix .... 
No 
No 
Charles Mix . . . 
No 
No 
Charles Mix 
No 
No 
Charles Mix ... 
Wagner 
No 
No 
Clark 
No 
No 
Clark 
No 
No 
Clay 
No 
No 
Clay 
Tes 
Clay 
No 
No 
Codington 
Tes 
r'orson 
No 
No 
Corson 
No 
No 
Corson 
Morristown 
None specified 
No 
No 
TABLE XXIV—STATUS OP MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLIES, SOUTH DAKOTA—JANUARY, 1946 MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
TABLE XXIV—STATUS OP MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLIES, SOUTH DAKOTA—JANUARY, 1946—Continued 
County 
Municipality 
Bacteriological 
Examination Interval 
Approved 
Supplies 
Chlorinated 
Supplies 
Custer 
No 
No 
Custer 
Yes 
No 
Davison 
No 
No 
Davison 
Mitchell . 
Yes 
Yes 
Davison 
No 
No 
Day 
No 
No 
Day 
Yes 
No 
Day 
No 
No 
Day 
No 
No 
Day 
No 
No 
Day 
No 
No 
Deuel 
No 
No 
Deuel 
No 
No 
Deuel 
No 
No 
Dewey 
No 
Douglas 
No 
No 
Douglas 
No 
No 
Douglas 
No 
No 
Edmunds 
No 
No 
Edmunds 
No 
No 
Pall River 
No 
No 
Pall River 
No 
Yes 
Pall River 
Yes 
Yes 
Pall River 
No 
No 
Paulk 
No 
No 
Paulk 
No 
No 
Paulk 
No 
No 
Paulk 
No 
No 
Grant 
Milbank 
Yes 
No 
Gregory 
No 
No 
Gregory 
No 
No 
Gregory 
No 
No 
Gregory 
Pairfax . 
No 
No 
Gregory 
No 
Yes 
Gregory 
No 
No 
Haakon 
No 
No 
Haakon 
Philip 
No 
No 
Hamlin 
No 
No 
Hamlin 
No 
No 
Hamlin 
Estelline . 
No 
No 
Hamlin 
No 
No 
Hand 
Miller 
No 
No 
Hand 
No 
No 
Hand 
No 
No 
Hanson 
Alexandria 
None specified 
No 
No MEDICAL, CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
County 
Municipality 
Bacteriological 
Examination Interval 
Approved 
Supplies 
Chlorinated 
Supplies 
Emery 
None specified 
No 
No 
Semi-Annually 
No 
Blunt 
None specified 
No 
No 
Bi-monthly 
Bi-monthly 
None specified 
No 
No 
None specified 
No 
No 
None specified 
No 
No 
None specified 
No 
No 
Bi-monthly 
None specified 
No 
No 
None specified 
No 
No 
None specified 
No 
No 
None specified 
No 
No 
None specified 
No 
No 
Wessington Springs 
None specified 
No 
No 
Bi-weekly 
None specified 
No 
No 
Bi-monthly 
No 
None specified 
No 
No 
None specified 
No 
No 
None specified 
No 
No 
None specified 
No 
No 
None specified 
No 
No 
Bi-monthly 
None specified 
No 
No 
None specified 
No 
No 
None specified 
No 
None specified 
No 
None specified 
No 
None specified 
No 
No 
None specified 
No 
No 
None specified 
No 
No 
None specified 
No 
No 
None specified 
No 
No 
None specified 
No 
None specified 
No 
No 
None specified 
No 
No 
Presho 
No 
No 
■Reliance 
None specified 
No 
No 
Vivian 
No 
No 
Bridgewater 
None specified 
No 
No 
No 
No 
No 
No 
McCook 
Salem 
Bi-weekly 
Yes 
Yes 
TABLE XXIV—STATUS OP MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLIES, SOUTH DAKOTA—JANUARY, 1946—Continued MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
TABLE XXIV—STATUS OP MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLIES, SOUTH DAKOTA—JANUARY, 1946—Continued 
County 
Municipality 
Bacteriological 
Examination Interval 
Approved 
Supplies 
Chlorinated 
Supplies 
McCook 
No 
No 
McPherson 
No 
No 
McPherson 
No 
No 
Marshall 
No 
No 
Marshall 
No 
No 
Marshall 
No 
No 
Meade 
None specified 
No 
No 
Meade 
No 
Yes 
Mellette 
No 
Yes 
Miner 
No 
No 
Miner 
No 
No 
Miner 
No 
No 
Miner 
No 
Yes 
Miner 
No 
No 
Minnehaha 
No 
No 
Minnehaha 
No 
No 
Minnehaha 
No 
No 
Minnehaha 
No 
No 
Minnehaha 
No 
No 
Minnehaha 
No 
No 
Minnehaha 
Yes 
Yes 
Moody 
No 
No 
Moody 
No 
No 
Moody 
No 
No 
Pennington 
No 
No 
Pennington 
Yes 
Pennington 
Wall . . 
No 
Yes 
Pennington 
No 
Perkins 
No 
No 
Potter 
No 
No 
Roberts 
Yes 
No 
Roberts 
No 
No 
Roberts 
No 
No 
Sanborn 
No 
No 
Sanborn 
No 
No 
Sanborn 
No 
No 
Spink 
No 
No 
Spink 
No 
No 
Spink 
No 
No 
Spink 
No 
No 
Spink 
No 
No 
Spink 
No 
No 
Spink 
No 
No 
Spink 
No 
No 
Snink 
Tnlnrp 
No 
No 74 
MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
Bacteriological 
Approved 
Chlorinated 
County 
Municipality 
Examination Interval 
Supplies 
Supplies 
Stanley 
No 
None specified 
No 
No 
None specified 
No 
No 
None specified 
No 
No 
Winner 
Bi-monthly 
Yes 
Yes 
None specified 
No 
No 
None specified 
No 
No 
Bi-weekly 
Yes 
No 
None specified 
No 
Yes 
None specified 
No 
No 
None specified 
• No 
Bi-weekly 
Yes 
None specified 
No 
Semi-Annually 
Yes 
No 
Bi-weekly 
Yes 
Bi-monthly ' 
Yes 
No 
None specified 
No 
No 
None specified 
No 
No 
None specified 
No 
No 
Utica 
None specified 
No 
No 
Volin 
None specified 
No 
No 
Bi-weekly 
Yes 
Yes 
x The material for this table and the analysis of the situation relating to water supplies in the various municipalities 
was prepared by Mr. R. G. Spieker of 
the Division of Sanitary Engineering, State Board of Health, under the dl- 
rection of Mr. W. 
W. Towne, Director, 
Division of Sanitary Engineering. 
TABLE XXIV—STATUS OP MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLIES, SOUTH DAKOTA—JANUARY, 1946—Continued MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
75 
County 
Municipality 
Type of Milk Ordinance 
Inspection Service Provided 
Per Cent 
Pasteurized 
100% 
Aberdeen 
Non-grading type 
100% 
Butte 
Belle Fourche 
U.S.P.H.S. Standard Ordinance2 
Coop, with State Board Health 
90% 
Clay 
Vermillion 
U.S.P.H.S. Standard Ordinance2 
Coop, with State Board Health 
95% 
Codington 
Watertown 
U.S.P.H.S. Standard Ordinance2 
Coop, with State Board Health 
100% 
Davison 
Mitchell 
U.S.P.H.S. Standard Ordinance2 
Coop, with State Board Health 
70% 
Fall River 
Hot Springs 
U.S.P.H.S. Standard Ordinance2 
Coop, with State Board Health 
65% 
Fall River 
Edgemont 
U.S.P.H.S. Standard Ordinance2 
Coop, with State Board Health 
25% 
Hughes 
Pierre 
U.S.P.H.S. Standard Ordlnance2 
Coop, with State Board Health 
98% 
Sioux Falls 
100% 
Pennington 
Rapid City 
U.S.P.H.S. Standard Ordinance2 
County health unit 
85% 
i State Board of Health Reports. 
2 U. S. Public Health 
Service Standard Milk Ordinance. 
TABLE XXV—MUNICIPALITIES WITH CONTROL OP MILK SUPPLY!, SOUTH DAKOTA — JANUARY, 1546 76 
MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
TABLE XXVI—PROPOSED DISTRICT HEALTH UNITS AND AMOUNT ONE- 
HALF MILL TAX LEVY ON 1945 VALUATION WOULD PROVIDE TOWARD 
TOTAL EXPENSE OP UNITS, SOUTH DAKOTA—APRIL, 1946 
Unit 
No. 
Counties in 
Each Unit 
Population! 
of Unit 
Area of Unit 
in Square Miles 
One-half Mill Tax Levy 
on 1945 Valuation2 
County 
Unit 
1. 
$ 2,644.00 
4.682.00 
4.239.00 
3.418.00 
1.783.00 
1.522.00 
129.00 
[ 
Unit Total.... 
32,980 
14,200 
$ 
18,417.00 
2. 
$ 3,733.00 
4.646.00 
5.156.00 
5.903.00 
22,381.00 
Unit Total.... 
58,150 
5,481 
$ 
41,819.00 
3. 
$ 10,505.00 
6,888.00 
12,936.00 
9,235.00 
Unit Total.... 
48,884 
3,730 
$ 
39,564.00 
4. 
$ 9,486.00 
12,355.00 
7.950.00 
6.991.00 
Unit Total.... 
41,981 
2,823 
$ 
36,782.00 
5. 
$ 15,878.00 
7,244.00 
13,208.00 
Unit Total.... 
39,341 
4,203 
$ 
36,330.00 
6. 
$ 4,740.00 
4.287.00 
3.127.00 
3.949.00 
3.494.00 
Sully 
Unit Total 
22,187 
i 
4,576 
$ 
19,597.00 
7. 
$ 12,523.00 
6,857.00 
13,041.00 
Unit Total.... 
52,627 
7,042 
$ 
32,411.00 
8. 
$ 2,009.00 
3.025.00 
4.128.00 
760.00 
Washabaugh 
Washington .... 
740.00 
0.003 
Unit Total.... 
27,230 
7,648 
$ 
10,662.00 MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH FACILITIES 
77 
TABLE XXVI—PROPOSED DISTRICT HEALTH UNITS AND AMOUNT ONE- 
HALF MIDI. TAX DEVY ON 1945 VADUATION WOUDD PROVIDE TOWARD 
TOTAD EXPENSE OP UNITS, SOUTH DAKOTA—AFRID, 1946—Continued 
Unit 
No. 
Counties in 
Each Unit 
Population! 
of Unit 
Area of Unit 
in Square Miles 
One-half Mill Tax Levy 
on 1945 Valuation2 
County 
Unit 
9. 
$ 4,123.00 
1.605.00 
2.463.00 
1.909.00 
2.166.00 
1,940.00 
Todd ' 
Unit Total.... 
19,759 
8,304 
$ 
14,206.00 
10. 
Brule 
$ 6,460.00 
1.399.00 
6.120.00 
4.353.00 
6.469.00 
Tripp 
Unit Total. ... 
32,584 
5,651 
$ 
24,801.00 
HI 
$ 8,529.00 
5.682.00 
10,237.00 
6.090.00 
3.691.00 
6.113.00 
Unit Total.... 
46,422 
3,250 
$ 
40,342.00 
12. 
$ 15,580.00 
9.605.00 
11.959.00 
6.351.00 
10.220.00 
Unit Total.... 
55,980 
3,285 
? 
54,015.00 
13. 
57,697 
815 
$ 47,073.00 
$ 11,531.00 
16.214.00 
14.757.00 
11.609.00 
$ 
47,073.00 
14. 
Unit Total.... 
47,708 
2,044 
$ 
54,111.00 
15. 
Bon Homme . . . 
Charles Mix .... 
$ 11,183.00 
10.864.00 
5,816.00 
12.007.00 
13.331.00 
Hutchinson .... 
Unit Total. ... 
59,431 
3,484 
$ 
53,201.00 
1 U. S. Bureau of the Census 16th Census of the United States, April, 1940. 
2 South Dakota Tax Commission, Report of Assessed Valuation, July 1, 1945. 
a Washington county which is unorganized is included in Pennington county.